I’m Off, To Cambridge
I've wanted to go to Cambridge for a while. The city, not to attend the University, if that's what you were thinking. Although I probably never thought previously that going to the University was an option. A friend was meant to join me but had to cancel. I continued with my now solo day out.
With the train ticket I booked being non-flexible, it was going to be an early start. I missed the first train, but there was some unofficial flexibility. I jumped on the first train that arrived for the first leg of the journey to Tottenham Hale. The train that I was meant to be on for the second leg was arriving in a few minutes. Result!!
The train was empty, and I used the time to read. I also used the time to be annoyed that I hadn't left earlier so I could pick up a coffee and croissant for the journey. I let go of the row I had with myself in my head and decided to make up for it as soon as I got off the train by heading to the nearest coffee shop.
The train journey was 1hr 38 minutes which might sound pretty long, as it takes just an hour more on the Eurostar to go to Paris, but time flies. It was raining when I arrived, and the first coffee shop was Costa. I didn't fancy going to a coffee shop chain today, so I decided to wait until I passed an independent coffee shop.
I live in my head a lot and create expectations that rarely get met. I expected Cambridge to look much like old England. I imagined it to be like visiting some Harry Potter-type fantasy location and that everything and everyone would look fixed in time. It was not. It looked pretty much like anywhere outside a train station in London.
Once that passed and I settled on the fact that I was in Cambridge, not Cuba, I continued my search for an independent coffee shop. I passed a Christian Science bookstore along the way and had heard someone talking about Christian Science on a podcast recently and decided that I would stop off on the way back at the end of the day and buy one of the books to learn more. I took it as a sign that I needed to learn more.
I had pre-booked a couple of activities but had plenty of time before the first one, so I found a coffee shop that I liked the look of and settled in. Now I felt like I was in Cambridge. Everyone sounded like they had studied at Cambridge and their next position in life would be in the Houses of Parliament. After a coffee, pastry and lots of people watching and listening, I decided to head off and actually see some of Cambridge.
Google Maps helped me navigate my walk towards the city centre. With the Botanical Gardens along the way, it was good to know that it was a close walk back to the station, as this was one of the activities I had booked for that afternoon.
There were a few cute galleries that I popped into along the way, and in one, there was a framed book. This was such a great idea, and I will be borrowing this idea for when I publish my first book :) I walked around smiling under my mask at this thought and remembered that I needed to finish writing it first. The sun was trying to shine through the clouds, and although this is typical British weather but disappointing for August, it added to the atmosphere I had created in my head of what Cambridge would be like.
The old buildings, narrow cobbled streets, and cute, quaint little shops with low ceilings didn't disappoint. This is the old England I wanted to see and the University, the main attraction. After seeing it all in person, it was just how I imagined it. I don't think any modern buildings compare to the design and mastery of more historical buildings. No doubt those involved in the construction would have much preferred the working conditions and salaries that we have now.
It feels ancient, historic, prestigious, very traditional, and much like the old England I expected. I felt slightly out of place, so I reminded myself of Maya Angelou's quote about belonging everywhere and nowhere as imposter syndrome starts to kick in. I keep expecting a member of the Royal family to walk past at any minute. This doesn't happen.
As it's August, a few families are walking around with their teenage children, most likely to visit before they start their first term in September. I think of how proud they must be, the parents and their children. There are also quite a few Black and Asian families, which is great as the need for more diversity everywhere is evident.
After touring outside the many buildings, I head to the River Cam, feeling like I'm on a British one-day holiday as the weather brightens. I've never been punting before, and today wasn't the day I was going to start. That is the type of thing I would like to do with someone, which wasn't going to happen on my solo trip. Maybe next time.
There are quite a few campus buildings that you can enter for a fee. I decided to go to Kings College Chapel. It's a gorgeous building, and there were few other visitors, which I liked as it made me feel like I could take my time without someone standing in front of something I wanted to look at.
I always think of everything that went into creating something, whether on a large or small scale. I also wonder how many of those involved thought about how many people would come to visit centuries after they were gone.
After walking around the grounds and thinking about the level of perfection that goes into maintenance, I realised that time is moving quickly. Before getting on the train back into London, I've a few things to tick off my list. The Fitzwilliam Museum, St Peter's Church, Heffers BookShop, the Botanical Gardens, and the other book shops from earlier all have to be covered before I get back to the station at around 4 pm. The train I'm booked on is at 4.20 pm. Will I make it? Probably not at this rate.
I go back onto Google Maps to navigate the Fitzwilliam Museum and speed walk there to make up some of the lost time. The museum is free, and there is a lot to cover. There are 33 sections (although there is not a no 32) with French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Egyptian, Greek, Japanese, and Asian art sections; the majority of the museum, let's say, has outsourced the majority of its artefacts. All British museums should have a disclaimer about how these artefacts managed to get into the hands of the British Empire. After passing the cafe in the courtyard, I realise I haven't eaten since the coffee stop and doubt I will be able to stop for lunch. I need to start travelling with snacks.
After a while, I head off to find the little church I read about. It takes me ages to find it, and when I finally do, I’m disappointed. After spending so much time trying to find it- one of the main things on my list to do - it was a little underwhelming. Sweet on the outside but underwhelming on the inside. I say a little prayer and head off.
Across the road is another church, so I decided to go and have a look inside. The priest and a group are having a meeting as I walk in. They all turn around from the pew to look at their unexpected interruption. I smile, which they won't have seen as I’m masked up, and then head back outside and give them a polite excuse me wave. There are three cute benches, so I stop and rest. They are inscribed with the words Peace, Love, and Hope. So simple but beautiful.
I realise how short a time I've left before my train departs, so I will probably have to skip the Botanical Garden visit. I speed walk to Heffers bookstore and pick up some books and literally only have 10 minutes in the bookstore, which is annoying as this is one of my favourite things to do. I wanted to ask one of the staff why the name Heffers but I decided to be mature and not waste any more time. I pay for books, keep my question to myself, and get on my way. I chose not to buy one of their canvas bags emblazoned with the word Heffers.
I feel flustered now, am hungry, and have less than an hour before the train. As the Botanical Gardens are not far from the station, I decided to go in still and spend a minimum of 20 mins before rushing off to get to the station.
Well, this is another annoying disappointment. Not the gardens but that I only have limited time to spend here. I didn't expect it to look like the gardens of Buckingham Palace, but maybe I should have. It's huge, and I'm in heaven right now. It's gorgeous, and I can't even stay for long. I get a quick sandwich and drink from the cafe and walk around, wishing I had more time. It is the most beautiful serene place to spend the day, and my day has run out.
My next day in Cambridge will be to spend the entire day at the Botanical Gardens. I plan my return visit to Cambridge in my head whilst walking less than 1% of the grounds. I find the nearest exit and hope it takes me out on the right side of where I need to be as I've 10 minutes to get to the station and onto the platform. It doesn't.
I get to the station with a minute to spare. I ask a staff member at the gate which platform I need to get to for the next train into London. I get to the one he tells me just in time. Not long into the journey, I realise I'm on the wrong train. It's going into London but not the one I should be on. It's actually a better route for me if the ticket inspector doesn't make a big deal. He doesn't :)
A day out can now feel like a weekend away. I'm looking forward to my next visit to the Botanical Gardens. On my new list will be Kettle's Yard, the Corpus Clock and one of the other buildings at the University and maybe some punting. Cambridge is worth a visit. Just make sure you plan, as there is so much to do.