Sunday, August 7, 2011

Cambridge England Highlights

Welcome to my vacation pictures, part 2 (of 3). You can see my London highlights in this post. We spent three days in Cambridge, and most of the time I was busy attending a conference. So, I didn't get to do that much sightseeing.  I did see some of the major sites, though:
We saw lots of people punting on the river, of course. And we visited a few of the colleges, including St. John's, which has a beautiful chapel and their own version of the Bridge of Sighs:
Cambridge is a University town, with a couple of nice shopping/eating streets surrounded by various "colleges." Access to the colleges is somewhat restricted, so you need to figure out what you want to see and when the college will be open. I missed getting into Kings College on my first try, but eventually got in to see the Christopher Wren Chapel and the grounds:
Paul and I stayed at Fitzwilliam College where my conference was being held. We went to a lovely "drinks reception" in the college garden and drank Pimm's and felt very British. We ate tapas at La Tasca and pasta at Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant.  I went for a nice three mile run around town to help keep my commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
We braved the stormy skies and ubiquitous "stay off the grass" warning signs to attend a lovely rendition of Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale in the Downing College Garden.  It sprinkled on us a bit, but we didn't get too wet as our chairs and the "stage" were mostly covered by the boughs of a very large tree. I missed seeing the library at Trinity College and the treasures of the Fitzwilliam Museum, but we did get to experience the excitement of graduation ceremonies (see some pictures in my post here). Didn't capture any scavenger hunt photos in Cambridge, but I thought I'd close with this self-portrait (check it off the list) taken in my new "Cambridge University" sweatshirt. I couldn't possible leave that lovely town without one. 
Got any favorites from today's vacation post?
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14 comments:

  1. JO SOWERBYAugust 8, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    ah yes the grockles punting, soooooo funny. we used to cycle from work at addenbrookes behind the colleges and up to the punt moorings and watch the people fall in over a lovely icecream. then we would cycle home across parker's piece home.
    i loved living in cambridge, it was a lovely town. the grad ceremonies were amazing and the colleges seemed to turn to gold in the sun,
    jo xxxx

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  2. Mary BAugust 8, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    Some superb memories you have here and yes that is a good one of you in your CU Sweater

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  3. AmyAugust 8, 2011 at 1:49 AM

    My sister lived and worked in Cambridge for a while and she loved it too ... I'm partial to your first shot!

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  4. HeatherAugust 8, 2011 at 2:34 AM

    love your self portrait shot & you look so relaxed in your new sweater!! Great photos of a place I have never been to so thanks for showing us around :)

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  5. AlisonAugust 8, 2011 at 3:46 AM

    Great pics Rinda...have never been to Cambridge, so enjoyed the tour!
    Alison xx

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  6. SianAugust 8, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    Fitzwilliam is Uncle Dave's college! I have stayed there myself when I was visiting him (in a sleeping bag bunked up in his room though, not in a guest room!) You have really made me think about knuckling down and scanning in the graduation pics I have - would you like to see me in my hat? lol

    A great selection of photos Rinda

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  7. debs14August 8, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    You can't expect me to choose a favourite when I have happy memories of all those places, in fact I was only there on Thursday! Such a lovely city and the more you go, the more you find. Such history, and such atmosphere.
    I still can't believe I didn't get to see you while you were there :-(

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  8. BeverlyAugust 8, 2011 at 6:40 AM

    Oh yes ma'am I do have a favorite, I love the first one, it could be a large framed print!

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  9. scrappyjackyAugust 8, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Have never been to Cambridge...but think it must go on my list now! I really love the look of the bridge.

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  10. DeniseAugust 8, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    It certainly is a lovely city,haven't been there for a while - it's only about an hour's drive from me. I rather like the first photo x

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  11. GingerAugust 8, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    Great photos Rinda! I also like the first one and the one of you :)

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  12. CherylAugust 8, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    Great pictures Rinda never been to Cambridge so loved the tour x

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  13. Carola BartzAugust 8, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    I love the picture of the fan ceiling in Christopher Wren chapel. It is so fascinating, I still remember it vividly when I saw it in the late 80's/early 90's. I love the punts, they remind me of "my" Tuebingen where I lived for 20 years, only our punts were old and not half as comfortable as these one. The fun though pretty much was the same.

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  14. Jo Capper-SandonSeptember 1, 2011 at 12:50 AM

    I really enjoyed reading your post. Being British I guess I take all this kind of thing for granted, but when seeing/reading this it gives a whole different look at what's not really going on in the rest of the world and how it appears through visitors eyes.

    Looking great in your new top!

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