Last night, Priya took her housemates Nyasa and Anna, our friend Aislinn and I to Llandaff Cathedral for a Ghost Walk. We didn't know what to expect, silly costumes? People jumping out from behind bushes? Nothing of the sort, which made it all the more terrifying.
We were a large group, nearly 30 of us. We were lead by a well learned historian (and brilliant story teller) and his colleague. They had a few spare torches and once we were all counted for we followed them down into the dark grounds of the cathedral and the river bank, to be told tales of history and fact that were churned by local stories as new as recent weeks, dating back to centuries before Cardiff was even founded. The knowledge these guys had was impressive enough and well worth the fiver we paid. The terror was only intensified when it was "torches out" and we were listening to ledgends that took place quite literally where we were stood of ghostly women, men that soared toward you, children teasing you, banshees taking your soul, victims of the thrashing river and the lost souls who remained here longing to find them, lights bobbing on the river bank path and travelling down the rivers surface.
Maybe it was the moon sliding out from the clouds to cast an unearthly glow, or maybe the owls hooting from the trees, but it was petrifying, grown men were near enough fainting and screaming like little girls and you could hear a pin drop as we all gawped, wide eyed at our story teller, the more faint hearted flinching at the sound of a twig snapping, looking over their shoulder in fear.
As we entered the last leg of the tour through the graveyard I don't think anyone doubted anything we were told.
Such a good evening! It needs to be said, just how utterly terrified of the dark I am, even with this in mind I had the most brilliant time.
I only wish I had worn wellies and thick socks, warm trousers and a big coat and hat. The path we stood on had been flooded and we passed through mud and huge puddles so I got pretty soaked and covered in mud. Nettles stings to boot. I would have taken my own torch too.
If you want to give it a go, and I highly recommend you do, here's the website:
http://www.cardiffhistory.co.uk/index.php?p=5
It's the most fun I've had in a while. How brave do you think you are?
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