Cardiff was spectacular
There are at least four blogs in me about Cardiff. I will get to them anon but, in the meantime, the blog that cannot wait.
For you to understand this blog though, you need to be aware that there is a television show called Doctor Who and that this show had a spin-off, Torchwood. You have to understand that Torchwood is filmed in Cardiff , most notably Cardiff Bay, a very pretty tourist location. In the show, a main character, Ianto Jones, was killed off last season. You also need to read yesterday‘s post and revisit the you tube of Ianto’s death.
Lot of homework for this blog. Apologies.
So my cousin Rachel and I visited Cardiff Bay today largely as it is the home of the Doctor Who Exhibition. I was aware that Torchwood was filmed in Cardiff Bay however, to be fair, I think torchwood is a bit crap. I wasnt really bothered about Torchwood. However, as you would remember, the receptionist who booked us into the hotel told us of a shrine to Ianto jones, dead fictional character in mediocre television series.
There was no way I was missing that.
The very kind, very enthusiastic receptionist told us that the shrine was near the Tourist information Centre in Cardiff. So we dutifully traipsed off to the tourist information centre in search of sadness.
And we walked. And we walked.
The tourist information centre is as far away as possible from Cardiff Bay. Work that out. Presumably they only want the fittest people to be able to bother them with questions. We finally got there, after passing this group of lads having their photos taken. We suspect they may be a new boy band. They certainly looked like a boy band, ie they pouted a lot but their hair was kind of greasy.
I said “Plonkers.” under my breath as we passed. Rachel pointed out that this was from the man who was searching through Wales for a shrine to a fictional character. I took her point.
We finally got to the tourist information centre. See I was fit. Who knew.
And no sign of Ianto’s shrine.
Not a skerrick. There was lots of polluted water which they don’t show you in Doctor Who. So other than ringing the nice and enthusiastic receptionist at the hotel for leading us astray I thought, perhaps, there may be a tourist map for Doctor Who in the information centre.
No. No such luck (curiously there was such a map at the Doctor Who Exhibition. )
So we enter my finest hour.
I approach the very pretty, very sweet tourist information assistant.
“Hello” says I, “do you know Torchwood?” ( I am dying as I say this… literally wanting the world to swallow me up)
“Oh yes.” She says helpfully and with a look of pity flashing across her face.
“Do you know where they film it?’ I ask. (I am beside myself now)
“The hub? Do you mean where they film the hub?” she replies.
“Yes”, says I. “Where do they film the hub?” (slightly relieved.)
“Oh” she says, “there’s a shrine there for someone who died. All these people have left flowers.” She screws her nose up at this.
Secretly I am jumping for joy however I remain calm.
“Oh yes.” Says I. “Mad isn’t it?”
Behind her is a huge panoramic map of Cardiff bay . She walks to it and points out the route to me, very loudly, so everyone in the room knows what I am there for.
She was gorgeous and only slightly pitying which I appreciated.
So Rachel and I walk and I walk and walk back where we came. Past Cardiff Bay. Had we turned left and not right it would have taken us a minute to see it.
However it was magnificent.
Pages and pages of poems.Photos. Flowers. Love hearts. Garlands. Beads. This huge outpouring of love.
To a fictional character.
It was sweet and sad and pathetic all at once.
I have to say I found the whole thing highly amusing. It appealed to my black sense of humour. And as I was reading all the letters and tributes I kept thinking, “Why don’t you do this for real events?” Obviously it easier to feel for fiction than real life.
I did love it though.
And so we left, suitably somber, after I paid my respects for the dead fictional character as the crying people laid more flowers.
Hysterical. And I am a bit agog. All for a fictional character. Maybe we humans no longer require flesh and blood entities to qualify as sentient. Shades of Star Trek Next Generation’s Mr. Data.
Oh completely agreed. It was the most amazing sight, in all senses of the word.
Wait till I sort myself out and get the flick’r account happening. Those pics were just a small tip of the iceberg re the shrine.
What a giggle. You’d think we’d have something like this for all fictional dead characters, except the baddies, of course. Actually, I suppose they’d attract the greater crowds, being so often the more interesting!
You are a nut! I am so, so jealous.