#1. LOCATION
Cambridge is in an great location for travel. We have our own National Rail station, a National Express coach terminal, and are quite close to London-Stansted Airport, which offers really cheap flights to destinations all over Europe. We're also just about 45 minutes northeast of London by train, so it's easy to get to Heathrow and King's Cross for longer international journeys as well. It's also really easy to take day or weekend trips away from Cambridge to places like Liverpool, Edinburgh, Bath, Newcastle, Oxford, Wales, Canterbury, and even Ireland, just because everything's so close together! What more could a study-abroad student ask for?!
#2. THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS (Lyric cred to Miley...)
Cambridge has the unique ability to feel like a big city while still being really quite small in size. You can pretty much walk to any location in the city, yet I am always amazed by the number of shops, restaurants, theatres, churches, cafes, bookstores, etc that are here! This brings me to my next couple of points...
#3. IF YOU WANT IT, YOU CAN FIND IT HERE
This goes along a bit with the "big city" thing, but Cambridge has everything. Two things in particular come to mind: food and shopping. Any kind of cuisine you could possibly be craving is right here in Cambridge. There are tons of restaurants serving international fare ranging from Turkish to Japanese fusion, carts and stands selling crepes, ice cream, and chips-and-cheese, American standbys like Starbucks and Pizza Hut, and, of course, British food (who can forget good old fish and chips?). And while I'm talking about food, I just have to throw in the candy store on St. Johns. It's an old-fashioned British sweet shop called Mr. Simm's, and it is just the cutest thing I've ever seen!
They always have awesome window displays, and the interior reminds me of Honeydukes (I know, I'm a dork). There are two levels connected by a spiral staircase, and between the two floors, I have never seen so much candy packed into a such a small space in my life! Plus, one whole wall of the first floor is just floor to ceiling jars filled with candy, and you can pick out whatever you like (they call it "Pick and Mix" here). It's a bit dark in there, so it's hard to get a good picture, but I did my best:
Even more striking, however, than the choice of food is the plethora of shopping opportunities. We have independent shops, we have malls, we have department stores, we have carts on the sidewalk... you name it. The best part, though, is the price range. No matter what your budget is, you can enjoy quite a successful shopping trip in Cambridge. Feel like dropping a hundred pounds on a trendy designer t-shirt? We can arrange that. Just want an inexpensive dress for the club tonight? We've got that, too. Need to stock up on Royal Wedding memorabilia? Fear not.
#4. OPEN AIR MARKETS
I guess this one kind of mixes food and shopping together, but it's really worth mentioning. In the center of Cambridge, on Market Hill, there is an open air market every single day (at least during the summer).
Once again, the variety is incredible: vintage clothing, candy, fresh baked breads, Cambridge sweatshirts, handmade jewelry, souvenirs, and a farmer's market-style array of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, on Fridays and Saturdays, there is a craft fair in All Saint's Square, and people come to sell all kinds of handmade stuff, from pottery and paintings to bags and leather belts. It's really cool, and a lot of these people are incredibly talented.
#5. STREET MUSIC
There is always music in Cambridge. No matter which street you're walking on, you can always hear someone playing, and it can change as soon as you turn the corner. I've heard some pretty awesome keyboard playing, jazz ensembles, violinists, accordion players, and I even saw a young girl, probably about ten years old, playing the harp on King's Parade. I actually see quite a few young kids playing music on the street (always accompanied by parents, of course- though Cambridge is so safe it probably wouldn't matter), which I think is pretty unique and completely awesome. Plus, there's the guy who plays fiddle on a tightrope. Need I say more?
#6. PUNTING
Despite my recent and rather scarring punting experience, I must admit that punting is a great part of the Cambridge culture in two ways: First, it's the perfect summer activity. Getting out on the water, relaxing and talking with friends, looking at the architecture along the river and waving to the people on the bridges.
The second reason that punting is such an ingrained part of the Cambridge experience? The punters. There are a few punting companies in Cambridge, and so the competition is FIERCE. The punters are everywhere, wearing their boating hats and casual vests, trying to beat out the others and asking every tourist who passes if they'd like to go on a tour (they're so competitive that we sometimes joke that there is a Punting Mafia). It has become a personal source of pride for many students on my program (myself included) that the punters no longer bother us; punting is a big tourist activity, and so the fact that they no longer ask us if we want to go punting means we no longer look like tourists! Score!
#7. NIGHTLIFE
For the most part, shops in Cambridge close down pretty early (usually around half-five), but that is not to say we don't have a thriving nightlife! Of course, the pub culture is very big here in the UK, and so for the over-18 set, there are a number of bars and pubs scattered all over town where people meet up just to sit and talk and have drinks. However, if you don't drink, there is still plenty to do (I even know some teetotalers who come to the pubs with us anyways): there are a number of nightclubs to go dancing, such as the Hawaiian-themed Lolalo's or the ever-swanky Revolution. Or, if you like to dance but don't care for the club scene, there's the Cambridge Lindy Hoppers, a swing dance club that meets several times a week. They give lessons for beginners, and then just open the floor for social dancing. I have a few friends who have been and they say it's a blast; the rest of us are hoping to go in the next few weeks!
Cambridge also has a summer music festival and a Shakespeare festival, with concerts and plays happening almost every night of the week, just in case you need a night off from the madness! Events are super easy to find, too; there are posters and flyers affixed to nearly every fence in Cambridge, advertising upcoming events and how to get tickets.
Love is always in the air here in Cambridge. I cannot even begin to count the number of weddings I have witnessed since I've been here; I saw two just today! While on my run, I ran by a big white car covered in flowers, and I could just make out the bride and groom through the tinted windows. And then later, as I was leaving King's, I saw something I have never seen before: a hot pink limousine.
It looks a bit more red than pink in this photo, but I assure you, this thing was magenta. It must have been a pink themed wedding, though, because a few hours later, as I was walking to the King's courtyard, I saw that the Great Hall was all set up for a wedding reception, and everything was pink: pink roses on the tables, pink bows on the chairs, everything! I also must mention that there was no wedding cake- just a big tiered tower of cupcakes (pink frosting, of course). It made me think of my mom, because she's always talking about all of the avant-garde things she'd have at her second wedding (note that my parents are quite happily married, so I don't know what this "second wedding" thing is all about... I think she just likes to plan parties).
But I digress; I think the weddings in Cambridge are quite wonderful. Maybe it's just because I'm a girl and I love seeing the bride's dress and all that jazz, but it's also nice to see people so happy and celebrating all the time. And now that I'm getting sentimental, we shall MOVE ON....
#9. ARCHITECTURE
Probably one of the reasons that there are so many weddings here is because there are so many churches!! I truly believe that you can stand anywhere in Cambridge and still be in sight of a church, but maybe that's just me. However, they are just as beautiful as they are diverse. King's College is located right across from Great St. Mary's, a late Gothic church that marks the center of Cambridge. While the parish has existed for over 800 years, the building itself was constructed over the course of the 16th century, give or take a decade or two on either side.
It also has a huge bell tower that rings the hours, as well as the more musical chimes that play on the weekends for hours on end (simultaneously beautiful and slightly irritating). The Society of Cambridge Youths is in charge of the bells, and they lay claim to being the oldest bell-ringing society in Britain and the second-oldest in the world.
Another church that I find particularly interesting is much smaller and less majestic than Great St. Mary's, but quite special in its own right. Its official name is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but most people just call it the Round Church, most likely because it's, well, completely round!
In my opinion, the most amazing thing about this church is its age: 881 years! Built in 1130 AD, it was meant as a place of shelter and worship for those travelling along the Roman road called "Via Devana," or what is now called Bridge Street! Fancy that!
Cambridge is also home to the thirty-one colleges of the University of Cambridge, of which one of my personal favorites is St. John's. I think I posted a picture of the college as seen from the river on my previous punting post, but I think it's even more impressive up close and personal, towering over Trinity and Bridge Street.
I've never been inside, but I really want to go; from the pictures I've seen online, the interior is just as beautiful and impressive as the exterior.
And though it's not a college, I must give a nod to the Cambridge Union Society, home of the Cambridge Debating Chamber and where we take our classes.
As you can probably tell from the architecture style, this building is actually relatively new: it's coming up on 200 years old. Built as a haven for students to have open discussions without fear of prosecution by university officials, the CUS still holds regular open debates on everything from abortion to foreign policy. It's really quite a beautiful building, and since it's set back from the street (it's actually behind the Round Church), the picnic tables in the courtyard provide a wonderful place to study or have lunch with friends when the weather is nice.
However, if I'm really going to talk about impressive churches and beautiful architecture, I'd be remiss not to mention one college in particular...
#10. KING'S COLLEGE
Ok, so as a King's student, I may be biased, but King's is absolutely one of the most beautiful colleges here in Cambridge, and I get to live here!! I must say, it's one thing to live in a tourist town, but to actually live in a tourist attraction is another thing entirely; there is always a huge crowd of people outside of the college gates, trying to get in, and tons more milling around the college grounds snapping pictures of the place where I eat my breakfast.... how strange!
At the same time that I've taken tons of pictures of King's, it's hard to capture how truly beautiful this college is with a camera. Nothing ever seems to do it justice! Nonetheless, I will try to take you on a picturesque romp through King's College.
We begin at the gatehouse, also home to the Porter's Lodge. It is one of my personal favorites, and I never get tired of admiring it:
Once inside the gate, you find yourself facing an enormous square courtyard. Directly in front of you is the Gibbs Building:
To your right, the King's College Chapel, the most famous church in Cambridge (one of my earlier posts has a bit more info on the history of the church as well as photos of the interior):
And on your left, the Great Hall, home of the college bar and the dining hall (again, there are some good interior photos in an earlier post):
And in the center of it all is a large grassy field with a fountain in the middle.
Note: DO NOT WALK ON THE GRASS. It may sound silly, but the rule is very strictly enforced. The minute you even THINK about stepping on the grass, a porter will come out of nowhere and tell you off! The only people who can walk on the grass are the college fellows, but rumor has it that if you do particularly well in a class, you will be invited to walk across the grass with the professor. Weird, right? I don't know if it's true or not, but either way, we learned quite quickly not to step on the lawn.
All in all, it's quite a beautiful courtyard, but very hard to capture in a photograph. However, I found this panoramic shot of the courtyard on Wikipedia, and I think it sums it up quite nicely:
Even looking at the picture, I realize how lucky I am to live here! It's just absolutely gorgeous!
Moving back towards the River Cam, you can see Webb's Court on your left, which is where I live:
I couldn't get a picture of the whole court because there are a lot of trees in the center, but if you can see the little archway to the left of the big arch, that's my staircase! Webb's Court is also home to the King's College library, which has been a studying sanctuary on many a stressful night. You're not allowed to take pictures inside the library, but I've borrowed this one from the library website so you can get an idea of how cool it is:
Moving on from Webb's, you'll see Bodley's Court on your left (more student housing):
Before coming upon the King's College bridge and the River Cam.
What a beautiful campus, right?! It's hard not to take it for granted because I see it all every day, but every once in a while, I step back and realize how amazing it really is to be living in a place like this.
And there is my list of ten wonderful things about Cambridge!! If I could pick one terrible thing about Cambridge, it would be the crowds. There are just people everywhere, not watching where they're going and blocking the roads and sidewalks... it takes three times as long as it should to walk anywhere! However, there's never good without bad, and I'd say ten good things to one bad thing is a pretty good ratio!
If this post has sounded a bit like a Cambridge tourism ad, I apologize; I am just so excited to be living in such a fun and vibrant place, and I just had to share it! Well, I really must get going; I need to finish preparing for my trip tomorrow- it's going to be incredible! Stay tuned for a post on Monday night or Tuesday morning... until then, cheers!
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