One of the things I love the most about Cardiff is the shopping. After a recent trip to Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands and considering I have been in some of the world´s best places for shopping, including several cities in America, I appreciate even more living and shopping here.
When I first came to this city the last thing I thought of was that I was coming to what I consider a shopping paradise, not only because of the diversity of products and shops, but also because of the prices, discounts and offers you can find. Unlike many other cities Cardiff also offers a special treat for students, as in many stores you get a student discount (from standard accessory shops like New Look to high profile ones like the British brand Lipsy London).
While in Cardiff I have surprisingly found that some things are even cheaper than in my country Mexico (famous for being really cheap), one of the most notable is electronics (from hair straighteners to laptops).
Among the most outstanding shopping surprises for me so far are the many supermarkets around Cardiff. On my first day in this city and while walking through The Hayes, which was one the first streets I ran into coming from the Ty Pont Haearn Halls, I found myself asking for directions to the nearest Tesco, as on the international student guides that is the big supermarket mentioned for doing your basic shopping, along with Asda, which now I know is the cheapest supermarket franchise although stores are always located in the cities´ outskirts and therefore you can only get there by bus.
Given that nobody could give me any reference of a nearby Tesco, my first walk through the City Centre led me to Sainsbury, the best and most accessible supermarket around the City Centre area. My first food shopping turned out to be really exciting given the diversity of prepared food from different countries, desserts and other products I had never seen before. The self service cashiers were daunting, as I come from a country in which, apart from parking machines, there´s always a person to attend you. Truth is once you get used to the self service (which is really fast) you don´t want to do it any other way no more.
Cardiff Market was also among those first discoveries, although very soon I realised the huge array of food shopping options:
Marks & Spencer. Apparently this gourmet supermarket is very famous among Chinese people because there they can find many specialised products you can´t find elsewhere except of course Chinese supermarkets (many near the Millenium Stadium area). Shopping here is an experience not to be missed and although many people think it is expensive, it´s actually not that bad. Here you can always find something tasty and original to eat if you are bored or just want to pamper yourself a bit. You can also find very good offers, especially if you go at night and, as in many other food shops, you can buy products that are due that day for a very cheap price.
Lidl. The student supermarket. Famous for being really cheap. Although here you won´t always find the best quality, it´s essential to buy some basics. In the same category is Poundland, one of my favourites. The only place in Cardiff where you can buy a nine- egg pack for one pound. The place where you can buy from a two litre milk pack to shampoo, kitchen accessories or a birthday present, everything for one pound.
The Arcades, Cardiff
And these is just food shopping. I could dedicate a whole new post on all the shops that are worth going to in St Mary Street, The Hayes, Queen Street (the big Boots is a must), City Road and Albany Road for a start. Another just dedicated to The Arcades, a sort of hidden labyrinth of aisles with all sorts of interesting and surprising shops where you can buy find from exotic fancy dress stores, hairdressers or exotic products to traditional coffee shops.
In Cardiff there is simply always a new place to go to or one soon to be opened. Just recently a new supermarket was opened in Queen Street, the Waitrose, which sums to the many other small supermarkets that were dominated by the Sainsbury local and Tesco express, which also opened a bigger store opposite the main entrance of John Lewis shopping centre.
So while new stores are opened, I will continue to enjoy the pleasures of a walk around the City Centre, where I know I will always discover a bargain, special sale or exciting store not yet explored. And probably chase the next student lock in Cardiff.
