Posts tagged Cathedrals

0500 I was dozing off in front of the TV by 0800 last night. Then I slept really well and could probably have slept longer but I’m keen to get started early as usual. There is rain on the window but it’s clear at the moment.

0630 It’s quiet at breakfast again. I start reading one of the books I bought yesterday: 50 Ways to Improve Your German.

0730 After checking train timetables I head to the station. Today I want to visit Norwich. The weather outside is clear and crisp. I buy an off-peak ticket. It’s not that easy knowing which tickets are allowed but the ticket has a website address which I check and I think it’s OK. (It is.)

0809 We depart Cambridge, stopping at Cambridge North, Ely, Brandon, Thetford, Attleborough, Wymondham and Norwich. On the way I see canals, fields, woods and forests; a bit of everything. I need to keep reminding myself that I‘m here and on holiday. It‘s too easy to take it for granted. I remember imagining these moments when I was back home. Well, here they are!

0938 We arrive at Norwich and I walk along the river walk which takes me past some lovely scenery and the Cow Tower. I head towards Elm Hill. The street is full of Elizabethan buildings. Next I head to Norwich Cathedral. I don‘t go in; not that interested. But it‘s good to see up close and see the differences with the other cathedrals I have visited. It appears less gothic?

Next I wander to Norwich Castle. Again, not quite like other castles I have seen. The stonework is less pitted. At first I thought it must be much more recent but it dates back to Norman times. Maybe it‘s made of different stone.

There are markets. They‘re very organised and a bit commercial, but I wander and get a nice roast beef roll for lunch. There‘s a loud protest going on outside the town hall. I can‘t work out what it‘s about, but the crowd seems well behaved, if very noisy.

When it‘s time to make my way back to the station I walk through a number of quaint narrow streets.

1240 I‘m returning to Cambridge early because of something I want to do this evening. It‘s overcast now and I semi-snooze on the train.

1400 We arrive back in Cambridge.

I want to head in to London to visit The Tower Remembers, which is a torchlight installation around the Tower of London to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. Tonight is the last night, so my only opportunity. The weather report seems OK, so I give it a go.

1520 I head to the station and there is a heavy downpour. I head back to my room to get my umbrella. I‘m not sure of the exact train ticket so I go to the ticket office. I get my ticket just in time.

1544 I‘m on a direct train to London Kings Cross and it‘s packed. Maybe lot‘s of people are going to the same place? The rain clears a bit as we leave Cambridge.

1633 We arrive at Kings Cross and I make my way to the tube station. There is a long wait for the train (by tube standards).

1703 I catch the Circle line to Tower Hill.

1718 Just about the whole train alights at Tower Hill along with numerous other trains. It‘s jam packed. I have underestimated this event. As we reach ground level I can see it is bucketing down. I‘m so glad I wore my rain coat and brought my umbrella. We begin a directed shuffle to the Tower that will take just under 2 hours. At times I think about bailing, but I remember why I‘m there. It feels disrespectful (and un-British) to let a little rain put me off. The mood is orderly and people are in good spirits. I get the sense that this is a significant event.

1900 I finally get to the Tower. It‘s still raining, but the installation (sight and sound) is moving. But it‘s hard to stay and ponder for too long. The installation consists of 10,000 torches lit around the Tower and quite somber music. You can read more about it here: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/explore/the-tower-remembers/#gs.ggmhxsQ

Afterwards, I decide to avoid Tower Hill station and make a dash for Aldgate station instead.

1930 I catch a CIrcle Line train back to Kings Cross. I have very soggy feet! I‘m so glad I left my camera and back pack in the hotel. It would have been a nightmare trying to navigate with them and to protect them.

2005 After a wrong turn, I make it back to Kings Cross train station and on a train back to Cambridge. Settled in, I eat the sandwich I had bought on the way through the station.

2035 We depart London.

2140 We arrive in Cambridge. I make the short dash to the hotel, dry off and straight to bed.

England 2018Ian Barber11 November 2018Tower of London, Castles, Tower Remembers, Norwich, UK, Armistice Day 2018, Cathedrals Comments

Canterbury

After falling into bed before 6:30 I slept well and quite solidly for nearly 11 hours. I awoke feeling only a little tired and certainly without any signs of jet lag and was up by 6:00 to head down to breakfast early. It was drizzling a little outside, grey and cold but I had an inkling it would improve.

After a nourishing breakfast I got myself ready to head out on my first adventure. The walk to the station took about 1/2 hour and along the way I adjusted to the realisation that I was back here again and it felt so nice. The rain had stopped but it was still grey and cold - but I didn't mind at all.

First destination was going to be Canterbury. I caught the 9:30 train to Canterbury West. On the way there we passed green fields interspersed with undulations and woods. I would discover that this is typical of the Kent countryside. Upon my arrival I headed to the centre of the town through a city gate.

The cathedral is huge. I thought York Minster from last year was big, but Canterbury feels much more cavernous and has extensive grounds around it.

The pulpit was rather ornate.

As you'd expect, there was stained glass everywhere. Some of the most intricate I have seen.

Along with incredibly detailed ceilings.

After wandering through each part of the interior, I explored the grounds. The wisterias are out at the moment.

I thought these lights were interesting.

After buying a beautiful book on song birds, I made my way through the town to Canterbury East station, stopping for some lunch along the way.

For some reason, this house caught my eye.

Finally, just before the station, I came across a wheel anchored to the wall. No idea why.

After a 1/2 hour wait at the train station I boarded the train to my next destination - Dover.

England and Wales 2017Ian Barber4 May 2017Kent, Southern England, England, UK, Cathedrals, Towns Comment

Bumpy day

One of the reasons for staying in apartments during some of this trip was so I could do some washing. Last night I put on a load. By the time I went to bed it was still going. I went to bed anyway, thinking it would finish soon. This was about 9:00pm. I was tired and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke around 1:00am the washing machine was still going! I reckon it got itself stuck in some kind of loop. I tried changing the cycle to drain the machine but it just kept filling itself up. So I turned the water inlet tap off. Finally, the machine drained. I was able to spin the load but I couldn't get the drier to work. I went back to bed to leave it for the morning. This morning I tried again with no success. I was going to have to dry the clothes in the room. I was worried that might take a while so I cranked up the heating.

I wanted to visit York Minster today, so after messing with the washing machine and having my breakfast I headed out. I intended to be there ready for opening time at 9:00am.

In the early morning I was able to walk through the city. I discovered a number of narrow streets lined with quaint shops in varying styles, some dating back to the 1400s. With hardly anyone around, it should have been the perfect time for pictures but the light wasn't very helpful. I took better pictures when I came back later in the day.

There are lots of sweet shops.

When I got to York Minster it was hard not to be impressed by the grandeur. It was equally hard to fit into one photograph! As I marvelled at the size I reflected on how much more imposing it would have been in the 1400s when it was finished and the buildings around it would still have been small.

As impressive as the scale of the building is, the architecture has an unsettling side to it. I couldn't help seeing the structure as an instrument of power and control over the people.

Inside was equally as impressive. Again, it was difficult to capture the scale in a single picture and what should be the most cavernous part was inaccessible due to stage and seating being constructed for upcoming performances. Nonetheless, I managed to see most of it. These are only a few of the shots I took.

Beneath the Minster is a crypt with interesting artifacts including parts of earlier Roman buildings.

It was possible to climb the 276 steps to the central tower, which of course I did. The steps were really narrow all the way up.

Half way up we walked along the roof line. Check out those flying buttresses.

The views were spectacular.

In one direction I could zoom in to make out the silhouette of a massive power station on the horizon.

I ended up spending a couple of hours in the Minster. Longer than I'd expected. Afterwards I walked back through the streets which were busier by now. There is an open air market, part food and part crafts. I bought a little print of a painting by a local artist.

At some stage I needed to pick up tickets for my next train trip on Wednesday. I had purchase them in Australia but needed to pick them up from the station. I also need to reserve seats. Unfortunately, I accidentally left my credit card in the machine (more about that in another post).

I rang the apartment agency regarding the washing machine. They were understanding and are trying to get someone to look at it. They gave me some tips on how I might be able to get the load I've done dry and they're drying nicely now. It will be nice to have some clean clothes.

Around 2:30pm I made my way to the river to join a 45 min river cruise. It took us a little way along the river in each direction. The guide was very informative, but there wasn't an awful lot to see that I hadn't already seen on foot.

I spent the remainder of the day wandering around, taking more photos. I won't post them here due to slow wifi.

All things considered, it was a good day. Just a couple of bumps along the way.

England and Scandinavia 2016Ian Barber17 May 2016Towns, England, York, Cathedrals, Northern England, UK Comments