So the concept of home is something that we all have and for me this has been greatly challenged by moving to Canada. We have just returned from the UK and IOM and of course I was thinking a lot about home and what it now means. For me home is surprisingly not a place, or rather not a fixed place and there can be many homes. As everywhere is constantly changing where you are, where you have been and a lot of the changes happen and you are not aware of them until you return to a place. The perspective of what you felt about a place can also change and so that was the case for me and visiting Cambridge in the UK and the Isle of Man I found scale and light very interesting. It means now that I return to Kitchener/Waterloo with new eyes and having formed some familiarity that I can appreciate this place anew and that for a someone who is trying hard to settle and find a new life is ultimately positive. Don't get me wrong, moving does suck! and is overwhelming and horrible but being presented with leafy streets and blue skies and comfortable temperatures isn't too difficult to endure.
This is part one of travelling to the UK and IOM August 2018
As we all know this summer has been fierce hot for all, practically all over the globe and the UK has been no exception. We had been warned but I was shocked to see how dry England was. The fields were patched and although the trees are green it was very hot and very dry
This Chestnut tree outside our apartment in Cambridge was showing signs of a hot dry summer
I just like this photo, it is of a bridge in Cambridge that stretched over a train station and junction. It is for bikes (thousands of them in Cambridge) and for pedestrians. Of course the first two peeps on the right are people we know, that being Isaac and Louie! Did I say it was hot, in this tunnel it was roasting and because it was humid too under the plasticy ceiling really quite unbearable. None of which comes across in this pic! We were walking super fast
Some street shots in Cambridge. Think it was about this time that the boys were both suffering from heat exhaustion!!!
So we didn't linger
Just long enough for some quick snaps, a cool drink and then forced march back to the apartment.
Whilst out and about in Cambridge I saw this statute on Kings College and I thought it was wonderful. Henry of course (that being VIII) and Mr Pigeon. Super duper and of course the expression on Henry is priceless. The pigeons of Cambridge certainly entertained Louie, having been in a place where outside makes a ton of noise by cicadas, birds and various assorted noises. Being in a place where pigeons are the things, huge amounts and morning doves (didn't know they could be quite so noisy)
What a truly spectacular building Kings College is. I couldn't get the whole thing in but spires are impressive
The details are everywhere and these guys were on another building on the street
Not sure who the people are but they are obviously significant to the buildings that they hold and I love the period costume
Inside Kings College Chapel. Just stunning. The vaulted ceilings, talk about great example and the angels just wonderful, of course with brass trumpets!
I couldn't photo it all but the stain glass was just stunning
I love this, the glass coloring the light onto the ceiling and walls of the chapel literally bathing it in colorful light
The workmanship and detail so abundant and with so much meaning and history
The scale is truly impressive
Just so big and did I mention chapel...wow this was worth seeing and I am so pleased we got to see it without hordes of tourists. That was a lucky break for Louie and I
So many things to photo but this just caught my eye the simplicity
This caught Louie's eye, the worn step from thousands of foot falls, makes you think
This must be quite the place at Christmas with voices singing carols and the acoustics of here
The alter picture had these panels either side and Louie and I wondered why. Well just as we were getting ready to leave and they were shutting up shop we found out. These panels are shut at night, pretty clever thinking.
I was intrigued by this door and how narrow it is. Also it is carved beautifully
On closer inspection I saw this....the seal and then someones graffiti, no idea how old the latter is..
Talk about a lock
We were lucky as they normally don't have evening opening of the chapel and as it was half an hour before closing, there was no one there save for 3 or 4 people. The custodian said that normally is it mobbed in the day. So all the way round we got the full majesty of the place and could just soak up the atmosphere.
Outside is just truly picture postcard..and not a soul about
I had wanted to see punting on the river. Well I wondered whether this was a real helpful signing or not?
Luckily it was exactly what we needed to direct us and we got that quintessential view that we had been looking for
Although the street leading there didn't give any indication that the river was just there
Apart from the stella sky in this picture I was going for the fab sculptures in front of this church. They were all to do with the Bible. Very clever
These roof lines were intriguing and of course flyers, and graffiti
Down a little back street yet another church and of course a bike and a min cemetery. You wouldn't think this was in the middle of Cambridge
More modern buildings of course over the years have sneaked in and this street sculpture too. Not sure what the idea is but it is colorful and rather sweet
The brickwork on this building was pretty special
And Louie liked this postbox.
There was not a huge amount of graffiti and this was an ode to that but actually a picture of the burger joint in the building..so I presume it was commissioned
Same said 'plastic' tunnel and this time noone in it and it is nighttime, lines and light we can call this one
We visited the botanical gardens and despite the dry conditions there were flowers
cactus
and lilly pads
Stripey plants
Pretty perfect fern curly que
and in the greenhouse it was lush to the point you could hardly walk down the paths
loved this spiral staircase in one of the greenhouses
The plants were laid out so well
I have been seeing this plant everywhere in the UK and IOM and I have no idea what it is but it is spectacular
I know this doesn't look real. So lush and the blue sky. Just the perfect day
Rather a cool effect in this photo. Dried flower heads
Just being arty in this shot
These grasses were so fluffy
and back to downtown Cambridge and Kings College. The sky was this amazing blue and although the street in front was mobbed, I managed to avoid most people in the shot
As the clouds rolled in, it became a very dramatic sky
The light on the spire at the end of the street caught my eye and the sun just breaking back through at the end of the day. It looked like the spire was holding the sky up or rather the clouds
As did this John Cleese graffiti... we can add our own caption maybe something like 'just leaving my mark' or maybe you can think of one of your own. Pretty impressive though and I particularly liked the placement of the bin!
I wouldn't be able to not mention the birthday that happened whilst we were in Cambridge a certain Damian turning 50. So we improvised with pompoms for the occasion, these made it back to canada and were very impressive and added to the fun of the day no end.!
Some outdoor art is just weird
Ah Ginkgos in Cambridge
There were some interesting mundane things I saw, this window was rather cool
Great doorways
This one they were trying differing new colours to use, all grey blue. It will great when done?! But great flags and brickwork arches
This one was splendiferous, doorway and look at those tiles. I loved the colour of the door
And now in red! I hope my wisteria looks this good when it gets going
We did manage to get to the Sedgwick Museum and see geology and anthropology things. It is rather an impressive building. Loved the elephant
Splendid archways
The bikes of course
Interesting stairs along the street and that brings Cambridge to a close. I hope you enjoyed this first installment. Lots to see and so many photos. It is hard to thin them out.
