Cambridge Walk #2

 [Warning: The last paragraph contains language that some people may find offensive. On the bright side: there is no flash photography and no animals or plants were harmed in making of this blog.]

Last week I had to run some errands in town and it was such a lovely, sunny day that I couldn't help myself and got my phone camera out. This is the first time I have used my new phone camera to take and share photos. The quality may not be as good as my usual camera, but I think the photos still came out pretty good. Hopefully you will agree.

I start this photo walk by the Cambridge Market Square.

Those bananas look very delicious, don't they?

The market is small but varied and has stalls with food, clothes, handbags, second hand crockery and nick knacks. There is a special stall once a week where you can take your bike to be fixed and another one where you can take your clothes for mending, but I forget which days, sorry.

If you are interested in being a market stall seller, it costs up to £32 per week and you will need to have a licence first. More info can be found on the Cambridge City Council website.

Would you believe it, there is even a webcam of Cambridge Market. Not much happening there at night, but during the day it can get pretty busy, especially around lunch time.

Further up, King's Parade is a main thoroughfare that goes past various Colleges. The streets around this part are very narrow and full of Architecture. 



 The photo on the left is of Michaelhouse Church that dates back to 14th century and the photo on the left is of Trinity Lane.
There is a bigger view of the back of the Church in the Market Square photo above.



I was wondering around snapping things of interest at random,
when a lady who was passing by also, started chatting to me as she walked beside me.

She had never noticed this door I was photographing, even though she'd lived in Cambridge for over 20 years.

We both agreed it was far too easy not to notice interesting things around us when we are so busy with work and the routine of day to day living.

It is a lovely door, isn't it.

What wonder it was to experience this beautiful and sunny morning. After the harsh and cold winter we've had this year, it was one of the first really warm days that truly felt like spring. I felt so fortunate to be able to mill around, taking the time to look about me and admire the beauty of the world.

And it seemed others felt elated too because I was soon being addressed by another lady, this time when I nipped into the grounds of Gonville and Caius (pronounced Keys) College.

The second lady remarked on what fine weather we were having and how lucky I was to have the time to be walking about enjoying myself.

The old colleges were built back in the day when food was grown in local gardens, chemical pest control and growth additives didn't exist, and consequently, people were quite short - this tiny door to the Tutor offices looks much as it was back in the day. No doubt, today's tutors have to duck when going in and out.
Like the Church on the other side of street, this college dates back to 14th century.  G&C College website has a bit more information about it's past, if you are interested.

Trying to take photos in the college grounds was not without difficulties. My new phone is one of those slim and sleek things that took a chance to fly out of my hands whenever it could. The wretched thing actually crashed onto flagstones at one point - the battery popped out and the pieces scattered.  Several heart-in-mouth moments later, I had re-assembled the phone and took the photo above.
Supernatural explanation: The Tutors of Yester Year didn't want me to photograph their inner sanctum and were consequently poltergeist-ing me.

After all that effort, I needed to chill out and made for my usual favourite place: Cornish Pasty Company. Walking past the back of the Church, I noticed pigeons feasting on invisible (to me)food so I decided to take a photo. Unfortunately, pigeons are easily spooked:

Back at the Cornish Pasty place, I had an amusing conversation with the girl serving - she couldn't find the price for what I was having (small/kid sized pasty) and sent me upstairs with my food and coffee while she found the Assistant Manager to check the price. She had only just started and was still learning about the job. I was sympathetic, having worked a really busy cafe/restaurant while I was studying and I told her this. She was very excited at the news I was a student and asked me what I was studying. When I explained, patiently, that I had been a student very long time ago, she earned mega brownie points by exclaiming: "But that's impossible, you look so young!"

Upstairs, I found the Assistant Manager deep in conversation with, what I assume was, Regional Manager, who was quite happy to conduct business meeting within the earshot of customers. (oh ok, two customers). The Regional Manager wore a suit, balding head and contrite air. I disliked him immensely. The Assistant Manager wore shop uniform of mucky t-shirt and messy hair and seemed very put upon.

I decided to help out the Assistant Manager by asking him the calorie content of my pasty which meant he had to get up and find the book with the information. This gave him at least 30 seconds break from talking to the annoying Regional Manager.

While he was gone, I took the opportunity to talk down to the Regional Manager. He went a bit green when his usual spin didn't work on me. That made me very happy.
I don't usually take pleasure in causing other people distress, but sometimes you've got to put cunts in their place.