The last time I was in the UK was 2001 when I was studying and living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Having not yet been to Wales, and with a dear friend living in Cardiff, I decided to swing by on my way to Prague. On my first full day here, we explored Cardiff itself and let me adjust to the time difference.

Cardiff Castle

The castle complex was originally built in the 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a Roman Fort from the 3rd century.You can still see the base of the Roman wall, in fact. The castle itself was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century which was probably smart considering the castle was a constant state of battle in the 12th and 13th centuries between the Welsh and the Anglo-Normans.

This is the Norman Keep, a “shell” which provided protection for the buildings within. It’s surrounded by an actual moat (I was a little excited about a real moat). 

Note the terrifying dragon in the foreground (I mean, how can you miss it)? The Welsh Dragon has been on the Welsh flag from the 5th century, but it’s first official use on the flag happened probably when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III in battle, beginning the Tudor Dynasty.  There’s some fun mythology surrounding the dragon, which you can read about here.

The lodging that exists was started in the 13th century with a remodel in the 15th century and more additions in the 1800’s with money from the booming coal industry in the area. The entire interior was completely redecorated by the Marquess of Bute, with a whole lot of eclecticism inside. Every room has a different theme, all designed and tailored by William Burges, an eccentric architect and designer. 

I’m not going to lie, the inside of this place is crazy. You could visit every day for a year and see something completely new. My favorite room was the Arab Room, it brought me right back to Iran!

Cardiff Bay

After a stop for Afternoon Tea (because you can’t go to the UK and not have high tea, we took a boat to Cardiff Bay and enjoyed the sites before heading home for a rest in preparation for a drive to Pembrokeshire tomorrow!

I love camping with my friends, but I also love my alone time. So after a night of camping at Suttle Lake here in Oregon, I decided to take a roundabout way getting home, a solo impromptu road trip, if you will. I ended up on the MacKenzie Pass Scenic Highway, not knowing what I would see. I was completely blown away!

Starting from Sister’s, OR, you begin to gain elevation as you transition from the dry side of the Cascades to the wet side where you’ll notice the forests getting thicker. Until suddenly you turn a corner and see miles and miles (50 square miles to be exact) of volcanic rock!

The highway apparently follows the path of a Wagon Trail Route from the late 1800’s, that’s right, Wagons went over these rocks. Wagons full of people’s belongings, furniture, musical instruments, babies too! (I recently learned that a Dulcimer came over from the East to California with my ancestors).

Somehow, trees have managed to grow here. They’re very short despite some of them being over 80 years old. This environment is very harsh – freezing and covered in snow in the winter, blazing hot but very windy in the summer.

When I am traveling and I feel afraid (for example, on a really bumpy flight), I take deep breaths and remind myself that if I die traveling, I at least die doing something I love. (Just remember that if I die while traveling, please).

Fear is a natural response that helps keep us alive, but it can also keep us from living. Fear sometimes needs to be overcome. If I feel afraid of something but can’t identify a rational reason for the fear, I work to overcome it. For example, after falling down a flight of stairs, I developed a fear of heights. Even walking down a hill caused anxiety. So I learned to rock climb safely and reclaimed my brain from that fear.

Travel can be very scary, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. So how is it that I travel as safely as I have? I’ve been to 14 countries, 5 of which are level 2 travel advisories or higher according to the US State Department. This includes France and Italy. Yep, France and Italy have travel advisories. Here are some ways that I determine if a place is safe and how to increase my chances of being safe:

Choosing a Location:

Everywhere you go has potential for danger. It’s called living. So I take calculated risks. Before going on my last 3 big trips (Turkey, Iran, and Mexico), I reviewed a variety of information to help me make the decision to go:

1. CDC and State Department websites. These tell me what vaccines I need if any, what travel warnings are there for which areas. I start with these sites but always with a grain of salt. Politics are almost always involved in the State Department warnings, for one thing.
2. Travel guidebooks. There are some amazing guidebooks to places even like Iran because despite what the state department says, the average American will be fine in Iran. (Admittedly, this is not true for Iranian-Americans). These guidebooks help you understand how to act, what to wear, and where to go in order to stay safe.
3. Blogs. I google and devour as many recently written blogs by Americans who have traveled to these places. How did they do it safely? Where did they go? Would they go back? Never use just one blog, read lots, and if possible, email the writers to ask questions.

Staying Safe:

Keeping your person and your stuff safe requires some diligence, and you can never guarantee success (even in your home town), but here are ways that I mitigated risk in actual scenarios I’ve encountered.

1. While waiting for my friends to purchase train tickets for us from France to Italy, I was left in a busy waiting area with all of our luggage. I was exhausted, and what I would’ve liked to do was lay down and chill out. But because I stayed aware, I noticed a man who was casually watching me for any signs of distraction. It was clear to me he was waiting for me to let my guard down so he could swing by and swipe a bag or two. So while keeping my eye on him, I also scanned the room for co-conspirators. It felt like forever, but eventually security also noticed him and asked him to move on. Keep an eye on your things, but more importantly, keep your eye on others.
2. In Mexico, I noticed a man lingering behind me. To test, I would periodically move to another location and discovered he was definitely following me. I strapped my purse close to my body and sat calmly as I determined my next move. I waited for a group of English speakers (in this case they happened to be American) to pass by and I politely explained that I was being followed and could I join them for a few minutes until he goes away. It worked, he went away almost immediately. If the group had not come by, my next plan was to go into a shop and tell the shop owner of my predicament.
3. I hate that this has to be said, but I can’t tell you enough. Follow all of the rules. You are a guest, and it’s not hard to read up on rules and follow the lead of others. When going to Iran, you bet I made sure I knew what was expected of me. I asked before taking pictures of building that could’ve been Governmental, and I respected my guide and hosts. This should be true in all countries.
4. A friend of mine had his luggage and camera stolen right out of his rental car while he was in Croatia. This can happen anywhere, of course, but try not to leave things unattended and especially not unattended and visible.

I do wonder what advisements other countries tell their citizens about travel to the US? Do they warn people about the measles outbreaks in areas of the West where vaccinations have decreased? Is Washington D.C. to be avoided because of the high rate of drug abuse? I have been to cities in the US where I have felt way less safe than abroad. Even in Portland there are areas I avoid after dark. The above should be practiced no matter where you are. And remember, taking risks is good for living, just make them calculated!