One of the highlights of being over here has been having friends from home "pop" over (as they say here) for a wee visit! Our first such visitor was none other than Jo Padgett and her friend Karen Adams, who stayed with us 3 days on their way up to Scotland, where Jo's parents live. We had a wonderful visit, and found it delightful to be on the "GIVING-the-tour-end" of Cambridge. We did a pretty good job of it, if I do say so myself, and we didn't charge NEAR the prices they'd have paid in town. :)
So, there was this kind passerby that took it upon himself to clear away all the other people on the sidewalk so we could take a picture, and then, to the amazement of us all, jumped in the picture himself! We laughed and laughed. No idea who he was...
Karen, in particular, wanted to go to an official English pub. No problem, they're everywhere. We took them to The Mitre, which was the first pub we visited when we first arrived...even sat in the same booth. I think that makes it a tradition. :) Fish and chips were enjoyed by all except Dianne, who opted for the Shepherd's Pie, another typical entree here, and every bit as yummy...
Punting on the Cam River is probably the one unique activity that Cambridge is noted for, so that was a must-do for Jo. Punting involves these long shallow boats, called punts, and a long stick that you poke in the mud in the bottom of the river to push the punt along. You can either pay guides to take you down the Cam, or attempt to do this yourself. After seeing more than one close call of people falling in, we chose to go with a guide, much to the dismay of Caleb and Daniel. Our guide was a college student with a very good sense of humor. Once we looked at our pictures, we noticed that in almost every single one, we were laughing...he really made the trip one to remember! Anyway, most of the famous colleges that comprise Cambridge University and other interesting historical sites are along the Cam River, so it is a very pleasant outing...oh! Did you see the rainbow behind Caleb? So, twas a beautiful afternoon when we started punting, and then, all of a sudden, it started POURING rain...enough to get us all soaked...then stopped and was completely beautiful the rest of the time. Such is the weather in Cambridge. :)
This bridge is called the Bridge of Sighs, and is named after its predecessor in Venice. This one, built in 1831, links the New Court of St. John's College (where the students take their exams) to the main part of the college, and was so named because of the sound students make as they walk across it upon completion of exams. As it was explained to us, on two different occasions, student pranksters have suspended a car beneath the bridge, after first punting the vehicle along the river then hoisting it up by ropes.
We'll always remember the daffodils. The English are known for beautiful gardens...and for a reason! We have seen some real horticultural masterpieces! Just around back of our flat--we are on the edge of campus--are thousands, I mean THOUSANDS, literally--of daffodils. We have had fresh bouquets of daffodils all over our flat for over three weeks now!
Ever play that game where you put a quarter on your elbow, and then swing your arm down quickly and try to catch the quarter in your hand? Yes, come visit the Greens in Cambridge and you, too, can have a go at this international phenomenon.
Karen was knitting a pair of socks while here, and Victoria, to her great pleasure, was the wind-the-yarn-up-girl.
Daniel thinks one of the best things about Mrs. Padgett is that, since she works in the medical field, she often has these great water balloons, sometimes disguised as ordinary gloves, in her pockets. Oh, the splatting-good-time those boys of ours had with the water bombs from her pockets! :)
