The day's main focus is a visit to "The Orchard" for lunch...and the 'path' we take to get there. But more on that in a second.....first on our way we pass Queen's College....with more beautiful flowers....
Buildings making up the college...
...a dining hall...."Harry Potter" and the gang would feel right at home....
Before reaching the footpath....we pass some of the many "Punters". The Punter is a person who takes you on a ride down the River Cam on a long boat very much like a gondola....first a glimpse at some of the "Punters"....
...quite civilized....and very dapper...don't you think?
Leaving the "punters" we elect to walk the footpaths to "The Orchard".....we pass through vast open areas of green....along the River Cam...
...with sheep....
...cattle (yes...the footpath took us right across the pasture..."
....plus....duck...geese....and swan
Finally, after about a 3 mile walk we arrive at The Orchard. The Orchard is located in an area called Grantchester. It is said to be an area of England where time stands still as the outside world goes by....
The area is as the name implies...an Orchard of fruit trees...and amongst them a tea garden which provides morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and other special events such as an outdoor theatre.
The Orchard dates back the first plantings in 1868. A group of Cambridge students ventured there and ask if the owner of the house if she would serve them tea under the blooming orchard....thus the beginning of what today is a thriving entity. But along the way...this became a haven and place of quiet relaxation for many famous people....such as Bertrand Russell, Maynard Keynes, Virginia Woolf, Alan Turing (he invented the computer), Frank Whittle (invented the jet engine), King George VI, and Prince Charles.
Take a look at the setting....
a setting under one of the blooming trees...
and as seen from inside the cabin....
and just as we were about to leave....a pheasant came in to check us out....
This was a wonderful experience....and the countryside pictures really can not do justice to being there in person....I hope if you come to Cambridge that you will make every effort to find "The Orchard".
In the late afternoon we attended a presentation at the Cambridge Union Chamber of Dawn French talking of her new book "More than a Tiny Bit Marvellous". Dawn French is a well know British Actress, Comedienne and writer....well known for a television series "French and Saunders". No pictures....but quite an entertaining event in a very prestigious building which has held many famous debates....
Another great day in this fantastic city.....
Wow, it looks very beautiful, peaceful and very relaxing.
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