Posts tagged Cambridge
09.11 Cambridge

0515 Apart from once being woken by a gurgling sound in the aircon unit (which was off), I slept really well. Breakfasts start at 0630 here, so I want to be there early to avoid any rush and also so that I can head out early for some city photos before too many people are around.

0630 There are only a few people at breakfast. Success! Ouch, I burnt the top of my mouth on last night’s pizza.

I’d like to get a photo of the breakfast area just for my memories reel. But I’d rather not get anyone in the shot. I aim, then one of the the staff turn around. I quickly try to cover my tracks by pointing down at my cereal. MY HALF EATEN ALL BRAN! What kind of pathetic food blogger must I look like? Never mind.

0730 I head out. There is patchy cloud. I walk into the centre of the city then east along the river Cam and back. Along the way I encounter the same throngs of cyclists I did yesterday. This is definitely a cyclist city; they rule the roads and they don’t take prisoners. I’m careful to look around before crossing any road or path.

0930 I want to walk through one of the colleges but it is closed until 1000. So I pop into a small café for a refreshment. I have a delicious piece of slice and a coffee. The experience also reminds me that contactless (pay wave) is so fast hear. The reading of the card is instantaneous.

1000 I enter St John’s College and walk through. It takes me to the Bridge of Sighs, which is an incredible name.

1030 It suddenly gets cold and I put my jumper on.

1050 I walk around a market. There are wonderful food smells.

1100 Great St Mary’s is a church with a tower you can climb. I buy a ticket and make my way up. The view is great.

1200 I’m starting to feel hungry. Earlier I saw a sign in The Greene King pub advertising, among other things, their pies. I can’t get the idea out my head. I order the steak and wine pie. I see news of the stabbings in Melbourne on a TV in the pub.

1245 It’s quite overcast. I decide to look around at some shops. But I’m feeling a bit weary. I decide to return to the hotel for a little while.

1418 After regrouping, I head out. This time without my back pack and camera. I wander around, browsing some book shops. It’s very liberating to be without the camera.

1630 I’m back at the hotel looking at my photos from the day. The weather has cleared a little in the last few hours.

1750 After my big lunch I don’t want too much for dinner. There is a Wasabi in the square downstairs. That will do.

1930 Time to work on my blog and then settle in for the night.

08.11 Buxton to Cambridge

0530 Anxious that I might miraculously oversleep, I’ve set the alarm. It goes off but I am already awake. Yes, it’s a tad early, but I don’t like to risk these things. Time to potter then get fully packed. I need to be out the door straight after breakfast. I have a morning of train travel ahead of me. And as much as I meticulously prepare, I always have a degree of worry that something will go wrong. Today is also a rush because I pre-booked to get advance ticket prices. But it’s locked me into a schedule. I will book the rest of my trips as I go. That should be more relaxed.

0630 I open the curtains. Lots of blue sky for the first time since I’ve been here. I haven’t minded the cloud though.

0700 Time for a very quick breakfast.

0735 I get to the train station in plenty of time.

0756 The train departs. It must be a commuter train because it gets very busy. I start to get anxious that it’s going to be tough getting off. But then it thins before Stockport and it’s all OK.

0850 We arrive at Stockport and I change trains. I make my way to platform 0 as shown on the sign and mentioned in announcements. Then there’s a new announcement that the train is departing from platform 2. Back we go. At platform 2 there’s already a train but I don’t think it’s mine. I let it go with trepidation, but I’m right. The next train is mine. My ticket is for carriage A which I assume will be at the front of the train. No, when the train arrives carriage A is at the back. Dash. There’s not much luggage space onboard but I get by.

0858 We depart a few minutes late. But this is the long leg of the trip and I’m all settled now.

0940 We arrive in Sheffield and lots of people get off. A sign back in Stockport alerted me that I needed to be in one of the front 2 carriages to get to Ely but carriage A was at the back. This did concern me. But then we reverse direction at Sheffield and we’re now at the front. It all makes sense now. Lucky I had a reservation, otherwise I would have sat in the other end.

0955 Chesterfield.

1030 Nottingham.

1110 Grantham.

1130 The train has a trolley service. I love this about trains in the UK. I grab a sandwich.

1140 Peterborough.

1215 We arrive in Ely. I get off to change trains for the last time.

1238 I’m on the train to Cambridge.

1300 We arrive at Cambridge. The hotel is literally next to the station. Very convenient. The hotel room is compact but very comfortable. It will be fine. The weather is still very clear so I decide to head for a walk while I can.

1400 I start walking towards Grantchester. It’s just over 2 miles from Cambridge and the walk follows the river Cam.

Grantchester is a small village. I had hoped for some quaintness but it didn’t quite deliver. Never mind, it was still a nice walk. About 7.5 km in total.

1600 I get back to the station. The walk was easy but my feet are sore. I stop into a Café Nero to try their winter spiced hot chocolate. Delicious!

1800 I head downstairs for some dinner. It’s not a restaurant, more a café but it looks good and feels relaxed. The hotel feels relaxed in general. There wasn’t a reception desk, instead there are roaming staff members who check you in. The hotel and the surrounding area feel very different to Buxton.

1930 I’m going to lie in bed and watch some TV.