• Added: 22nd of September 2007
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Cardiff CF10 5BZ
029 2046 4546

Madafi said
great views on the Bay
Coffee Mania enjoys a nice view of the Bay with indoor and outdoor seating areas. The outdoor seating is an affair of a few tables and chairs dotted around the front of the cafe. Make no mistake, however, that when the sun is shining this is where you want to be - sipping your coffee and watching people go by. But keep in mind that like any other prime location cafe, expect to wait long for a good table to become available.

• Added: 6th of August 2007
• Area: New York
• Category: Arts and Culture

New York 10128
212 423 3500

Madafi said
Guggenheim NY
While there is a lot of controversy about the Guggenheim building, visiting it and walking through the spiral walk ways is an experience. OK so the acoustics are a bit uncontrollable and you have no choice but to follow the way up the spiralling walkway, but this was not so bad an experience, really. You can hire an audio unit which can be used to learn about the pieces exhibited (through keying in a number corresponding to your piece of interest). This was easy to use and informative in many cases.

I visited during high season in June 2007 and the feature exhibition was The Shapes of Space; it was interesting to say the least but I have to say that I find some 'new age' creations a bit to the trivial side. (at least I have the guts to admit it, OK?)

The museum's permanent collection was most impressive and less than 15% up the spiralling walk way you realise that you are in the presence of greatness. I got tingly down the spine when I stood before Pablo Picasso's Woman with Yellow Hair, where the face of his mistress is drawn beautifully using one continuous stroke.

I think that the Guggenheim Museum is a must-see if you go to New York City.

• Added: 6th of August 2007
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

London SE1 7PB
0870 500 0600

Madafi said
London Eye
A group of friends and I spent a few days in London and we decided go onto the London Eye. The first thing that struck me about it is the structure; it is fantastic, and you have to be standing next to it to appreciate the scale of the it all. The queue was quite long; we arrived at the site at 16:00 and managed to get into a pod at 18:30 after two lengthy ques (one for the ticket and another to get in). The views from the pod were spectacular and we even saw the arches of the new Wembly in the far distance. Your picture is taken when the pod is making its way down and if you like it you can purchase a copy for 7.50 (or two for 10.00). We took the offer for two.

When it all ended, however, we were left with a "is that it?" feeling having paid 15 pounds each for the experience. This sense of little value for money continued as we checked the priced of the merchandise on offer.

In conclusion, I don't regret visiting or going on the London Eye but having been on it once I don't think that I would want to go again. I do feel however that it is a must-see for London visitors.

• Added: 6th of August 2007
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Cardiff CF24 4ND

Madafi said
Café Mina in Cardiff
Caf Mina is a Lebanese caf/bar. It is a bit on the small size in terms of the number of tables but the atmosphere is intimate and friendly. Third time there and I am now on first name bases with the management of the place. The food is of an acceptable level (the mixed grill is exceptionally good) but the prices are slightly above average. I have discovered that this Caf/bar is not child friendly and the staff, while not objecting explicitly to having children there, make you aware that the caf was not designed with children in mind.

• Added: 6th of August 2007
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Cardiff CF10 1BS
029 2025 2024

Madafi said
Jazz at Dempsey's
Dempsey's is a pub situated in central Cardiff. It is essentially a traditional pub with friendly staff and established locals. On Tuesdays and Fridays local and national jazz bands play the functions room on the first floor and the atmosphere there is no less than brilliant every time and the traditional nature of building adds a great deal to the atmosphere.

• Added: 6th of August 2007
• Area: Porthcawl
• Category: Restaurants

Porthcawl CF36 5BT

Madafi said
Great location overlooking the sea but rude staff
The location of this Inn is worth a million pounds; it overlooks a fantastic beach with an outdoor seating area right at the edge overlooking the beach, coupled with plenty of indoor space. The place was clean and tidy, the prices were reasonable and the staff looked clean and presentable. The quality of the food was in general average, but at the high end of the scale of what you would expect in a beach front Inn.

It was hot and sunny when I went there with a groups of friends (3 families with 7 kids in total). We used the outside seating benches and the view was spectacular. We bought our drinks at the bar, but some of us had brought in their own water bottles. Some of the kids ordered burgers and chips from the Inn (and ate their food indoors), while the others had their home prepared sandwiches.

We were having a good time until the bouncers came by ad asked us to order more drinks! Some people in our group did not drink alcohol (they are Muslims) but those who do bought another round of drinks and returned to the bench outside. The Bouncers came back again after a while and requested that at least one more drink should be bought for every adult in the group. When we objected to the unfairness of this demand the bouncer swore at as requesting that we cleared the benches! Informing the management about the incident had no effect, the duty manager made it quite clear that he agreed with the behaviour of the bouncer (instructed him with a friendly "you carry on" gesture to indicate his agreement with the bouncer's action).

It was a truly hurtful experience and we felt discriminated against; There were others sitting there with no apparent orders on their tables but were not approached (or sworn at!) by the bouncers as far as we could tell.

One of my mates speculates that, because some people in our party are non alcohol drinkers, the management thought that the potential of the outside benches was not realised to its maximum and so wanted to make way for alcohol drinkers to occupy the benches and hence more business.

Needless to say that this incident spoilt the whole outing for the entire group. The children were very disappointed and the general mood became quite grim. This incident made us regret visiting Porthcawl, and it will make me think twice before spending leisure time anywhere in the UK. I am an academic and I travel on conferences more than twice a year (on many occasions with my family). Nothing like that has ever happened to me before and I was never spoken to so rudely in my life.

In summary, while the Hi Tide Inn is situated in an attractive spot and enjoys fantastic views of the beach, make sure to meet the business expectations of the bouncers in terms of orders or you will be told to p*** off (literally).