Compass

Like my friend Tacai so wisely says, you are everything. I have subconsciously given you a weighty amount of power in my life and it is almost laughable that I am finally realizing your strength after 20 years into the game of life. Fortunately, you’ve been a positive contributor so this isn’t sending me into a mid-life crisis, however, it has given me a new lens to see you through. Ironic, huh?

This weekend I went to Cardiff, Wales with a random group of visitors, most of which severely underrated your charm and handed their happiness over to a spoiled perspective. I am somewhat pleased that they decided to voice these thoughts and their below average experiences thereafter because it opened my eyes to just how powerful you are.

I went to the same place, stayed in the same hostel, walked through the same excursions and yet we seemed to have toured two completely different cities. One that was stale, empty, and uninteresting and another that radiated cultural dignity, is home to a glimmering bay, and can proudly wear the nation’s Capital title.

I got to stand in a bay that was once the largest port in the world; I stood where thousands upon thousands had begun, left, or continued their lives- through the coal industry to the double world wars, you could feel this inlets age. At the edge of this same retired port, I walked through the National Assembly and saw how the ecological, patriotic, and democratic characteristics were indeed capsulated into one building. The transparency represented by the windows, the distinctly welsh décor, and the symbolism hidden throughout is what made this graceful building one of the highlights of my trip.

I saw a never ending weekend that unfolded like one solid string of hours as I met locals, walked through arcade alleyways, and scarfed down welsh cakes.

I can choose if you are going to be a giver or a taker and I choose the first ten times ten thousand.

Thanks for the brilliant weekend

I felt as though it was made just for me

Riley Makenna

Postscript: you’re a key puzzle piece to my learning of l’arte d’arrangiarsi

bus ride ft. taylor and gabi

this is billy and trevor

our hostel, the nomad, how fititng

outside a museum

cardiff castle

such a cute walkway

other side of cardiff castle

welsh cakes are bomb w/ raisins too

cool

sorry this is sideways

outside the millennium

tacai the yogi

where i got my gf welsh cakes with raisins for the second time

eating more welsh cakes at the bay

i love this bay

ok i am obsessed with my umbrella and i named him the king and then i left him at turtle bay and went back to get him the next morning

outside the national assembly

one of the reasons i loved it so much

inside the national assembly looking into the literal assembly

boat tour through the bay

it was the perfect time, maybe i liked the bay so much because it was like home too

turtle bay is my one love

look you wouldn’t even know how awesome turtle bay is

obviously had to find some live music again