Wine, food and travel with Clare : A few days in Wales

We've just returned from a super few days in Cardiff, a city we now know quite well as our daughter has lived there for the last four years. We always visit at this time of year to celebrate her birthday; it's a quieter time but still so much to see and do.

Cardiff Bay - view from the boat

We decided to take the river boat from Cardiff Bay into Cardiff itself, something we've done in the summer when the Bay is full of tourists. It was quite sad to be the only people on board, the service has to run even if there are no passengers. It's about a 20 minute trip up the River Taff past the new modern apartment blocks, the Principality Stadium and arriving in Bute Park.

Our visit this time coincided with a new display at the Cardiff National Museum. This year, to mark the 500th anniversary of his death, the Royal Collection are displaying 44 of Leonardo da Vinci's greatest drawings in 12 exhibitions across the UK and Cardiff is one of the venues.

The detail in his drawings is amazing, so much information, such very fine work. I didn't realise how much work he did, I knew about the well known paintings and a very impressive helix staircase in Chambord Chateau but not his drawings.

I have always wanted to stay at the Celtic Manor, an impressive hotel standing high above Newport. It's a complete resort complex known for it's golf course. We enjoyed staying the night before Valentine's Day, it was lovely to celebrate at breakfast and then again at home for dinner. It was a great stay, we both enjoyed some time in the pool, the room was huge and so much choice at breakfast.