Day 19 - 27th April 2010 Cambridge Ely

Day 19 – Cambridge & Ely

A beautiful sunny day – almost like summer back home! A charming English breakfast then decided to not brave the parking in Cambridge and instead walked to the train station and went in by train (only 15 minutes and 4 pound each return!).

On the way saw more of the brilliant yellow fields which are everywhere. Took a bus into central Cambridge. Great shopping area – not that we purchased anything and then around to inspect the tremendous buildings around the various colleges. I didn’t realise Kings was only one of a number of educational institutions in Cambridge - including Queens, St Catherines, Trinity, Clare, Gonville & Caius, Downing etc – all with fantastic buildings dating back to1200’s, 1300’s and 1400’s. Kings chapel being the most spectacular which we paid to go into. 

Heaps of students everywhere doing tours – all seeming to speaking other languages from the continent so couldn’t eaves drop on their tour guides talks!

Was also a place of bikes. There were bikes everywhere – mostly old, and locked on fences, wires, walls etc or being ridden – virtually no helmets being worn.  This photo was at the train station!

After inspecting the young men “Punting” down the River Cam we returned to Ely by train once again – including sitting first at the front of a 2 decker bus – feeling like we were driving again!

Back in Ely we took a wrong turn and ended up in their terrific little Marina - glad we didn't miss it - was terrific

After a late lunch, we off to Ely Cathedral. This place is huge once again – but almost cathedralled out!!!! Still got St Peters to go though!!!!!

 I took the option to go on the Octogan tour (someone else decided to stay on terra firma!). The photo above shows where we went up to. This took me to the top of the main central tower – tremendous views back down into the church (there is one of Shona way below above) and we also had tremendous views across the city from the outside. About 43 metres down from where we looked into the church! Even high enough for me!

Then back to hotel to write up reports then out for Pub meal again probably.

Another terrific day – back to bustle of London tomorrow – for our final day in England (for now) – well if all goes to plan. Thinking we might try for Windsor and see if the Queen will meet us there since she wasn’t at Sandringham yesterday!!!!