Cardiff City Centre for the 4am Project 04/04/2010

The 4amproject is a movement, an event, an experience, with the purpose to gather a collection of photos from around the world at the magical time of 4am on 4th April 2010. Anyone and everyone can take part and join in! With the whole point of seeing what you see at that moment in time on that one day. What would be our view of Cardiff at 4am?
 
Unfortunately in the UK 4th April turned out to be Easter Sunday within a Bank Holiday weekend.
Personally for me it was made extremely difficult to attend this event as there was one of the biggest local derby matches with Cardiff playing Swansea followed by Cardiff Blues playing Ulster. (Cardiff won both games btw! hoorah!!!) Hence after working all day Saturday, watching these two games with copious amounts of beer I had to be strong and leave the celebrations in the pub to be in bed by 10pm to ensure at least a few hours of decent sleep and for the effects of the beer to have worn off.
 
I think I instantly went to sleep with only a brief stirring at midnight before waking back up promptly and sharply at 03:30am. NO hangover was apparent and still revelling in the two great wins earlier in the day. Water on face, clothes on – no time to brush hair. Fellow 4am-er Anita Harris was already parked outside and raring to go!
 
It was difficult trying to think of an exciting location to capture something actually happening, we were pondering on railway stations, post office, Cardiff Bay but due to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend a lot of commercial activities just werent happening so we opted for Cardiff City Centre instead.

 
Our trek began on the Taff Embankment, with a very dark Millennium stadium in the background but with some illuminated veg sculptures to whet our appetite for what was ahead. We headed over the Wood Street bridge to Cardiff Central train station where only a couple of taxis lurked in the taxi rank with no activity at all. A few stragglers anxiously waited outside for the train station to open to assist them in getting home. But no major antics – just peace and serenity.

Walking beyond to the top of St Mary Street and over to Mill Lane via Penarth Road and the only activity was the clean-up operation from the weekend excesses. A solitary rubbish truck collected the waste and gave us some different lights from the flashing lights on the truck. Also great being able to take a shot of the Private Shop without feeling too guilty!

Only a few people meandered across the newly completed Hayes area with the remnants of chip wrappers and cartons strewn across the area. Some revellers tried to climb the newly erected sculpture outside the library but obviously failed!
A slow walk along the empty, desolate, quiet streets around The original Hayes island and then back down via Wharton Street.
 
 

Whilst attempting some light dancing (for the first time!) we were surprised to see a police car pull over and speak to us! The officer just checked that we were ok and told us to watch out for pick pockets!

It was amazing to be in the City Centre at 4am and experience it sober(ish) for once. It was great to see it with clear eyes and to see that all the bad press and so-called yobs and drunks havent overrun our beautiful city and spoiled it.

We could hear the chimes of Cardiff City Hall ring out in the distance to signify 5am had been reached. We rapidly snapped the last few before heading back home – where I got to bed about 05:45am only to be back up for work at 08:30am. I didnt feel that bad in work, bit of a stiff neck and almost like a delayed hangover but loads of food, coffee and chocolate helped! (I knew there was going to be a good reason for having it on Easter Weekend afterall)

For a full slideshow of all the photos click HERE
Vodpod videos no longer available.