After staying at home for what felt like an eternity during the pandemic, I finally made it back to my old stomping ground – the wonderful city of Cardiff, capital of Wales – this month for some reptilian retail therapy (and to celebrate my wedding anniversary). Toby the tortoise was most put out that I didn’t take him with me, but he’s had a good look at my reptile goodies (and claimed most of them for himself!). Here’s what I came back with and where you can find it all.
Dinosaurs at the National Museum Cardiff
The shop at the National Museum Cardiff has always been a great place for dinosaur goodies. This time, I came away with two soapstone dinosaurs – a Triceratops and a Stegosaurus (£3 each), a Velociraptor necklace (£4), a Velociraptor fossil magnet (£5.50) and a plastic Velociraptor model (£7) to add to my collection.
Jurassic World at Forbidden Planet
One of my favourite dinosaurs in Jurassic World Dominion was the Therizinosaurus (see my Jurassic World Dominion review for more on this and other new dinosaurs in the film), so I was delighted to find this very colourful Therizinosaurus Pop! Vinyl Figure (£10.99) in Cardiff's Forbidden Planet store on Duke Street in the city centre.
I resisted the temptation to buy this wonderful Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor giant Pop because I didn’t think I could carry it home on the train alongside all my other reptile loot.
To feed my Velociraptor habit, I also bought this vibrant Jurassic World Raptor Attack Funko Pop t-shirt (£11.99), which isn’t available on the Forbidden Planet website, but you can purchase it here.
I was also very tempted by this Funko Pop Jurassic World t-shirt, featuring Velociraptor Blue.
Jurassic Park III at Troutmark Books
Troutmark Books, a second-hand bookshop in the Castle Arcade in Cardiff city centre, has always been one of my favourite bookshops and I’ve spent countless hours there searching for hidden treasures (in particular, adding to my collection of Nancy Drew books and Robin comics). I wasn’t to be disappointed this time around as I found, tucked away on a high shelf in the children’s section (I had to make use of my husband and a stool to access it), a book that probably only a handful of people in the world would be interested in reading. Luckily for me, I’m one of them! I remember owning the junior novelisation of Jurassic Park as a child, but I had no idea that there even was a junior novelisation of the much-maligned (and for good reason) Jurassic Park III. Some might argue that any price is too high for such a curiosity, but I maintain that this was a steal at £1.50.
And don’t worry, if you’re desperate for a copy, it’s available to buy second-hand online, for example, from AbeBooks.
You can find out more about Troutmark Books here and, if you’re ever in Cardiff, I’d urge you to drop by. If you like books, there’s sure to be something that takes your fancy.
Michael Ende’s Momo at Waterstones Cardiff
German fantasy writer Michael Ende is best known as the author of The Neverending Story (which features a luck dragon and a giant swamp turtle), but his book Momo, first published in 1973 (six years before The Neverending Story), features a magical and highly intelligent tortoise called Cassiopeia who communicates through writing which appears on her shell. As a tortoise owner and aspiring author of tortoise fiction, I had to have this book. (Plus, I’d have been in trouble with Toby if I hadn’t bought it!) The edition I purchased (Puffin Books, £6.99) has a wonderful front-cover illustration crafted by former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, who also provides the cover illustration for the Puffin edition of The Neverending Story.
The Golden Tortoise at Jian Chen’s Fine Art
I’ve loved Jian Chen’s art since I first came across her stall on Cardiff Christmas market many years ago and I was delighted when she opened a shop in one of the Cardiff arcades. I’ve purchased several prints from Jian Chen before, including a beautiful picture of Cardiff Castle, where I got married, but I had my eye on one print in particular when I visited Jian Chen’s Fine Art shop in the Morgan Arcade in Cardiff City centre: the golden tortoise. This was my first time in Jian Chen’s new shop as the pandemic halted our Cardiff visits for two-and-a-half years, but my husband and I received as warm a welcome as ever.
Image credit: Jian Chen (Jian Chen's Fine Art)
The shop looks amazing – it’s covered from floor to ceiling in Jian Chen’s beautiful, multi-coloured prints and the artist herself is so friendly and enthusiastic that it’s impossible not to enjoy your time there. It was lovely that she recognised us from our previous visits to her old shop and she enjoyed my photos of Toby posing with his print. (This, my most expensive purchase of the trip, is Toby’s present to appease him after leaving him at home with the ‘human grandad’ whilst we gallivanted around Cardiff – very rude of us!).
The print comes in ten different sizes, with options of unmounted, mounted and framed (with a choice of a black or white frame), with prices ranging from £14.50 to £125. We opted for the 40x50cm print with a black frame (£70). You can order the golden tortoise print (plus many others) on Jian Chen’s Etsy store.
Jian Chen has many animals amongst her wide range of prints – including four different sea turtle designs – and some of them are available on coasters, keyrings, tote bags and greetings cards. You can also purchase original paintings from her Etsy store.
But, if you’re ever in Cardiff, it’s well worth a visit to Jian Chen’s Morgan Arcade shop. There’s nothing better than seeing the prints up on the wall, with the exuberant artist standing in front of them.
Reptiles Galore at Bristol Zoo
We made a trip over to Bristol Zoo on our wedding anniversary to bid it farewell as the zoo is sadly closing in September. Some of the animals have already moved to new homes, but the Reptile House is still thriving. Highlights for me were:
The giant tortoises, who were enjoying a morning snack:
This plucky African pancake tortoise, who eventually got back on firm ground:
This adorable Fly River turtle, who waved hello as he swam by:
And, finally, this grumpy-looking Uromastyx, who was determined not to put in any effort whatsoever for the stupid humans who insisted on gawping at him:
The zoo will close on September 3rd 2022, so you need to get in quick if you want to say goodbye to these beauties. You can book tickets here. Adult admission is £21.95 (with a voluntary donation of 10% to help the zoo’s conservation efforts), and £15.95 for children aged 2-14 (with a voluntary 10% donation). Under 2s go free.
The Bristol Zoo shop had plenty of reptilian goodies on offer and I came away with this delightful giant tortoise magnet (£3.99), which you can currently still purchase here.
I also bought my sister this lovely A5 framed Laura Robertson print of tortoises holding up the Clifton suspension bridge (£26.99) – modelled here by my sister’s Moroccan spur-thighed tortoise, Grace. (Welcome to the Reptile Files, Grace!) I think we bought the last copy at the zoo, but you can buy A4 and A5 unframed prints from the artist’s Etsy store here.
Image credit: Sarah Andrew
Dragons at Historical Wales
You can’t visit Wales without coming home with a dragon or two. I found this lovely little turquoise dragon ornament (£5.99) in the window of Historical Wales, a Welsh tourist shop on Duke Street in Cardiff, right next door to Forbidden Planet. The shop boasts a wide range of dragon ornaments, but this was the only one of its kind in this colour and an obliging staff member had to climb into the window to liberate him for me.
Dragon Pride at Cardiff Market
A trip to Cardiff market saw us come away with this glorious Welsh Pride flag (£6). I’ve been looking for one since I first saw them at Cardiff Pride several years ago and this one clocks in at an impressive 5ft x 3ft. You can order them online here.
Turquoise Tortoise at kd mookaitedecor
Not technically a holiday purchase, but my sister bought us this adorable kd mookaitedecor Blue Howlite Turquoise Crystal Turtle Statue (£9.99) for our wedding anniversary. (You may have guessed by now that turquoise is my favourite colour!) You can purchase one here and, if you don’t want it in turquoise (although, why wouldn’t you?) the good news is that it comes in lots of different colours!
Stegosaurus Handbag at Dino Bags
My husband bought me this fantastic faux-leather stegosaurus bag from Dino Bags as an anniversary present. You won’t fit much inside (I managed my phone and my purse), but it looks great and it comes in five different colours. The stegosaurus is currently £31 in the sale (with 25% off) and Dino Bags offer free worldwide shipping. And, if you’re really into dinosaurs and cute little handbags, then you can collect them all. There’s also a Triceratops (in four colours), a T-Rex (in two colours) and a Pterodactyl (in four colours). Hmmm, well it’s not too long until Christmas . . .
Reptilian Wall Art at The Range
I returned home to unwrap some wonderful reptilian wall art – an anniversary present from my parents – purchased from my dad’s new favourite shop: The Range. Apparently, they sell everything, including this Bright Patterned Turtle (£8.44):
And this Bright Gecko Trio (£8.99):
They can be used indoors or outdoors. We opted for outdoors to give our garden a more Mediterranean feel. I think Toby approves!
Dino Bookends and Tortoise Garden Ornaments at Shared Earth, Liverpool
I couldn’t finish this blog without sharing two reptilian purchases from a recent day trip to Liverpool. In Shared Earth, I found this turquoise sandstone tortoise garden ornament (£12.99). Surprisingly, Toby hasn’t shellbutted it yet, but give him time! I, of course, opted for the turquoise tortoise, but it also comes in red/terracotta, grey and cream.
Finally, here are some Kisii stone Triceratops bookends (£19.99) in (surprise, surprise!) turquoise. They were a bit heavy to transport back home on the train (which is why I gave them to my husband to carry!).
There’s also a lime green Spinosaurus and a red brachiosaurus. (I would have bought them all if I’d had more husbands to carry them for me!)
That’s the end of my epic reptilian retail therapy (for now!). So now it’s your turn to spend your own hard-earned cash on some reptile goodies. Do let me know what you’ve purchased in the comments below!
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