Cambridge: Scholars, Sculptures, Soldiers

Sean and I picked up a rental car so we could drive to Cambridge, England.  The big plan was to visit the library at the University for the 600^th anniversary… rare books and stuff on display… free!

So we drive to Cambridge, park at the park and ride (Parking is non-existent in the town since there are a gazillion students) and off we go!  

We pootled around the town and just loved it.

So busy, such beautiful architecture, such young beautiful students (handsome men offering tours of the campus), a market and also an arts and crafts market, plus food, of course.  We never made it to the library!

Cambridge is amazing.  Thirty-one colleges, 20,000 students and over nine-hundred years old.

Shopping was ... fun!

The Great Gate of St John’s College is beautiful!  It was completed in 1516.

The carving is the coat of arms of the Foundress, Lady Margaret Beaufort. The curious beasts on either side are yales, mythical animals having elephants' tails, antelopes' bodies and goats' heads, with horns which can supposedly swivel from back to front!

Above the coat of arms is a statue of St. John the Evangelist: at his feet is an eagle, the traditional symbol of the Saint. He holds a poisoned chalice, with a snake representing the legend that he charmed the poison out in the form of a serpent and then drank safely.

Holly and I found a fun shop with fascinating things in it. 

After Cambridge, we drove a short distance to the American Cemetery, where 3,812 servicemen killed in action in England and northwest Europe are buried.  It was quite a moving sight.  The chapel is beautiful and shows a map of the engagements and has beautiful stained glass windows, one for each state.  This property was given to the US by Cambridge University. 

There we met up with my friends Peter Moore and his lovely wife Nadine and their beautiful and charming daughters Ebony (L) and Brontë (R), with Willow on the right.  I met Peter in 1989 on a Caribbean cruise and we have remained friends since.  They live in Eaton Socon, just a few minutes away from Cambridge.  

We went to their house and met their menagerie (a dog, 2 cats and a big fluffy bunny!) and then we all went and had a delightful late lunch at a pub.   Lots of laughs and new friendships made.  Soon it was time to schlep back to London!  Sean did an EXCELLENT job driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.

And here are Peter and Nadine Moore, with Brontë and Ebony (and Toby)  Thanks for your hospitality!