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Saturday, May 31

Saturday, May 31

Crazy enough, we all slept in ‘til after 11! So strange that yesterday we were up at 5:30. After showers and breakfast, called Laura about meeting up, but only got her message. So since it was a beautiful day, we headed out about 1:30 to explore more of the central area.
On Castle Mound, north of River Cam and center of town, overlooking the town. To my right, above the roof, you can barely see the top roofline of King's College Chapel.
Roofline of Cambridge, still on Castle Mound.
Former White Horse Inn.
On Magdalene Bridge going into town, looking west on River Cam.
One of the maps Martin gave us had a walking tour, so we did our own tour. Stopped by the Carphone Warehouse (cell phone store, to check on why we couldn’t get through for international calls; seems the entire network is having problems, not just us) and Boots (like CVS, but w/ make-up counters & children’s clothes, strollers, etc.) for diapers. Everyone was out – and it was pretty warm! Our self-guided tour took us by many highlights: St. Bene’t’s Chapel (c. 1025, oldest bldg. in Cambridge), the Eagle Pub, Pembroke College, Peterhouse College (1st in Cambridge), Little St. Mary’s Church (tombstones so old you could barely see writing; beautiful over-grown English garden through the cemetery), the Mill Pond (you can rent punts, which are boats pushed through the water with a long stick) on the Cam River (tons of people out today, picnicking in the meadows by the river, riding bikes or walking along the river, watched a lady fall in the river from one of the punts!), then by the Colleges such as Queens, St. Catherine’s, King’s, Clare, Trinity Hall, Gonville & Caius, Trinity, and St. John’s, and by St. Mary’s Cathedral (where Luther’s books were burned). One student passed us telling some friends he had just finished his last final, hence the bottle of champagne he was carrying! We’ve read a little on the history of these places, but it’s at least nice now knowing where they are. There are I think 26 colleges all together; 5 of which charge an entrance fee.
Quayside (quay meaning "along the river" or something like that); lots of outdoor cafes overlooking the punts and River Cam.
Ready for the sun!
Beginning our "tour" - peeping in windows; we have NO idea if there was anyone on the other side!
Corn Exchange, now a theatre. St. Bene't Church, the oldest bldg in Cambridgeshire (county), c. 1025.
The Eagle Pub
We had to get a beer at the Eagle!
Trying to call Krista, viewing south on Trumpington Rd.
Pembroke College; oldest bldgs. in college on left.
Pembroke Chapel; see the statue of William Pitt?
Fitzwilliam Museum (art)
Little St. Mary's, where George Washington's great uncle was vicar.
Beautiful cemetery behind Little St. Mary's.
"The Mills"; Cam River.
Queen's College
Side of St. Catharine's College
King's College
Old Schools and Senate House (administration for Uni.)
St. Mary's Cathedral
Gate of Honour, where graduates used to pass through to receive diplomas.
Entrance to King's College Chapel.
I think this is part of Trinity, on the side.
Trinity College, main entrance. Henry VIII is the statue; he started the college. Trinity's courtyard, called the Great Court; the largest of all the colleges. Btw, Chariots of Fire did "happen" here, but was filmed elsewhere.
Rotating right, still Trinity; that's the chapel in the background.
Trinity's main entrance, from inside across the courtyard.
We stopped by the Round Church to use the WC and meet David, one of the door keepers who wrote the guide for doorkeepers. Oh, and on the walk I got through to Lauren and left a message for Krista, and Mom’s cell a little later. It was neat being able to talk cell to cell ¼ around the world! David got some bread on the way home; delicious and we were starved! Frozen pizza and salad for dinner; read after A got to bed.

Friday, May 30

Friday, May 30

So this morning, we were up about 5:30 listening to the doves cooing, although of course didn’t want to be. Out of bed around 7:30 to clean some dishes. Addie woke up around 8; breakfast – she’s doing good sitting on the phonebook. Back to nap around 9. D shower, I showered (real shower – figured out the shower head), cleaned up, puddle around the house, waiting for her to wake. Headed out around 12, taking pictures along the way.
View going down Castle Hill (Castle Street) into town.
Magdalene Bridge, crossing over into town. Magdalene College is where C.S. Lewis was. These boats are the punts; kind of like gondolas, but obviously an English version.
2 months will go too quickly, so better get them now. And watching for street signs to orient myself. I’d like to go on a bus or walking tour to introduce ourselves to the basics. David at Round Church, being oriented by Martin about administrative duties as well as historical facts. Got a few emails in before the 3 of us headed to Lion Yard to get cell phones (about $60) and watch battery (about $18).
Looking north on Sidney St.; keep going north and RC is on right. The white sign says "Sainsbury's", a grocery store in town center, so stays pretty busy!
Cool bldg. across from Lion Yard. Maybe a bank?Ouside Trinity College; behind tree is/was Newton's quarters. The tree is a graft from the old tree that was here when Newton was.St. John's College; if we kept going straight on this road, the RC would be across on the right.
Starbucks on the way back to Round Church (RC); Addie worked on jumping and had fun chasing the pigeon in the yard while D talked w/ Martin. Headed home for nap; a while later I went out to get a few things at a new grocery up the corner but was called home by David because Ranald Macaulay was on his way to meet us. We had a great talk with him, about his conference in Hungary, something like the World Leadership Conference; talked about creating centers to support PhD students at Cambridge with a Christian mindset/worldview, amongst many other topics of conversation. Addie woke up; glad he was able to meet with her. People are so adoring to babies here. He headed out about 5:30 or so. Heated up dinner from Gladys, which was nice to still not have to really cook, esp. since I’m still trying to clean the burners/grill. Adelaide and David played outside and talked with our neighbor while I got dinner going; thankfully our neighbor said he didn’t hear her crying last night at 12 and 5 am. After dinner, D gave her bath while I headed out again for the store. I love walking everywhere! Called Laura, an American here for the past year w/ 2 small boys, goes to Martin’s church and lives down the street – we set up to meet up at her place tomorrow morning. 2 loads of laundry done, hung outside to dry (tumble dry for undies/socks). Read and talked together, to bed around 10:30. LOVE having speakers for our iTunes – wouldn’t be “home” without music!

Pictures of House

Welcome to 20 Canterbury Street!

The front of our house.

front hallway, looking at front door living room - fireplace doesn't work, but looks nice!living room again looking out the front window Dining room, behind living room.
The fire door leading from living room/dining room hallway to kitchen.
Kitchen - the fire door actually opens right by the microwave and fridge.
Another view of kitchen, showing table and washer. The water heater is above it.
Adelaide eating on the phone books. We now have a booster for her, but she worked well for a few days with this set-up!
Bathroom
Bathroom again; the tub
"Side room" for lack of a better word, leading to backyard. That's the dryer. Only one plug, so have to decide to use dryer or fridge/freezer. We use the little fridge and haven't used the freezer, so that solves that!
Side room again.

Our backyard or "garden". The neighbors next door (Linda, Ian and 15 daughter Beatrice) have the most beautiful flowers in their garden!

Going upstairs (back inside by living and dining rooms). Addie's room is the first one at the top of the landing, and is the smallest. It's over the kitchen. She was napping so didn't get pictures of her room.
Guest room, the middle room, which will be the girls from South Africa when she comes (unless she prefers Addie's!)
Guest room again.

"Master" bedroom -yes you see correctly, 2 twin beds. Together makes a king.

2 windows out of Master bedroom (front bedroom, being closest to the street)

View from master bedroom, looking at back of houses across the street from us. These houses face Benson St.