The City of Cambridge

After two years and only 4,000 miles, we decided that it was time to get rid of the car.  It was used so rarely and just costing money.  But not before one last UK road trip.  As you know, I love London.  But I also love getting out of London, so our next weekend city break was Cambridge. 

The famous university city of Cambridge is about 50 miles north of London and like the most picturesque of British cities, a river runs through it.  The river Cam.  Cambridge is one of the most famous universities in the world.  It was founded in 1209 and is one of the top five in the world, depending on the rankings that you read.  It leads the scoreboard on Nobel Prizes with 90 and it has produced 14 Prime Ministers. 

I still haven't been punting in spite of trips to Oxford and Cambridge, but Matt promised me someday and I will hold him to it.  Punting is the thing to do in Cambridge.  A punt is a flat bottom boat without a keel that is propelled along shallow waterways with a long pole. 

Historically, they were used to transfer cargo in the marshlands surrounding Cambridge.  In the early 1900's, pleasure punting became all the rage and it's still the best way to see the city. Even on a cold day the students were jumping in and snuggling up with the plaid blankets and a cold beer.

This is the mathematical Wooden Bridge that connects the "light side" and the "dark side" of Queens' College.  If you're gullible, you will believe that it was designed by Isaac Newton and contained no nails or bolts.  Many years later students disassembled it to see how it worked and couldn't get it back together again... without using nails and bolts. 

That's not actually true, but it's a lovely bridge dating back to 1749 (it's been rebuilt a few times) and the graceful arch is made up of all straight timbers.  

Charles Darwin, John Newton, David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, Virginia Woolf, CS Lewis and Prince Charles are just a few of the illustrious students from Cambridge.  If I have any influence, maybe someday one of my grandchildren will attend Cambridge.  Can you imagine?

The University is made up of 30 Colleges.  In the US, you live in a dorm when you go to university.  In the UK, you apply to both the University and a specific College.  I hear the interview process is pretty intensive.  The college is where you live during your time at the University.  Where you eat, sleep and study and they each have their own distinct personality. 

We visited just one of the Colleges during our trip which was Queens' College. It's one of the oldest and largest, founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI.  It's one of only two that spans the River Cam.  The "dark side" is the older side with Saxon and Medieval structures and the "light side" has the newer structures. 

Students at Cambridge attend classes for three terms of about 8 weeks each for three years for their degree.  Each college has their own formal hall where the students can experience a three course meal, but only if they wear their gown.  (So very Harry Potter.)  They also have the option of a less formal cafeteria style meal in the buttery.  

Each college will have not only residences for the students, but libraries, dining halls, chapels, sports fields, a gym and likely even a bar.  It was so interesting to read all of the flyers for the variety of student clubs and organizations.  So much going on.  If only I had it to do over again.  

Be sure to find the Corpus Clock with its frightening Chronopage or "time eater" also called Rosalind by the students.  It's quite mesmerizing as it ticks away the seconds. 

I hate to use the word "pleasant" which can seem so trite in a travel blog post. But that's exactly what our day in Cambridge was.  It was pleasurable and satisfying. 

Cambridge wasn't even on my radar at the young age of 19, but it was fun to put my young self in such a completely different world, kind of like a movie.

Speaking of movies, if you haven't seen The Theory of Everything yet, you must change that.  It's the story of Stephen Hawking and his wife.  Much of it is filmed in Cambridge where their story started.  It's an achingly beautiful movie and will make you consider life differently.

Can you see yourself going to University at Cambridge?

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