A Tourist In Cambridge

As one of the ‘must dos’ on the American visitors trail Cambridge certainly compounds the vision of a land full of quaint little market towns. Many small, independent shops have managed to survive and as well as tea rooms with delectable cakes, both to eat and to look at. There are shops selling everything from clothes for a somewhat gentrified cliental to sweet shops resembling the Harry Potter set. And there is still an outdoor market every day of the week in the square. Browse around for unusual clothes or delicious local food.

Each turn of a street corner takes you to another historic building or land mark. The round church, Kings College evocative of Christmas and carols and the Corpus Christi Clock with its somewhat macabre grasshopper eating up time are but a few.

Much of the centre is pedestrian and car free, but beware of the bicycles as their silence does not betray their presence. Being run over is one of the hazards of city living – I was told.

Being with a member of the university staff meant easy access to the colleges, but most are open to public. Check the dates as they vary from college to college. We went in to St John’s college, where the old library was open. Though internet research is so much easier there was something almost reverential in the collection of ancient books. The leather bound texts on the shelves making me want to sit, read and forget about the world outside. Most unusual, but with original texts from Darwin…

Half a day was really only time to ‘see the sights’. I ticked the boxes of the major landmarks, took a photo of the Bridge of Sighs and the punts on the river and then, as many other tourists do, took the train to London to see a show. Matilda.

Cambridge, a reason to go south…..