Went on a mission over Cambridge way to check something out. I know your busting at the mystery and intrigue of what it was but I'm not telling......
Whilst there we strolled up and down some mid city streets and what an interesting place it is. A university town being largely occupied by broken arse students means their is a zillion push bikers commuting to and from the bottle stores and the quietness of pedal power means if you don't keep a sharp eye out whilst crossing roads you are likely to wear one. Silent Killers. Still it all adds to the setting along with he River Cam that flows through the town centre.
First building to catch the eye was the Fitzwilliam Museum. It was getting on in the day but there were still heaps of visitors coming and going. I wonder if the quoted numbers of visitors each year, 470,000, has anything to do with the Free entry. Makes for a nice change to be able to view for free.
From the street....
The columns and verandah look impressive...
As in anything you need to start somewhere and the first stone was placed in 1837 with the opening in 1848...
The ceiling of the verandah......
Tops of the columns and door way arches are so detailed...
From one side.....
These two Dudes were very hospitable......
Clean lines....
With no hint of whats through the doors...
The entry hall......No wonder it wasn't completed until 1875......
Marble and stained glass was stunning....
The light poured through the very top....
About 5 stories to the top....
Now we've seen a lot of architecture in the UK but I reckon......
This is tops... Unbelievable craftsman ship and visual effect...
Moving onto other rooms.....
More ceilings with style....
Art gallery around the lower and upper levels...
In this age of Slashers Flashers and Bashers it was surprising to be able to walk right up to....
Paintings by the likes of Monet and Picasso....
There was a so called security guard down one end of the gallery but one would have to have awoken him to tell of any goings on in the last twelve hours...
And then soon as I seen them I knew....dammit...
A couple by Paul Cezanne... Apples, He loved painting fruit and self portraits....A dead set giveaway....
plus his name was right there too..
A painting to capture the eye was.....
The Oak and The Reed, middle, by Achille - Etna Michallon....1796 - 1822.. sounds French because he was.. A lost talent I reckon dying aged 25 from Pneumonia...
Back out on the street and we checked out, free entry, a couple of the university grounds.
Different strokes for different folks but I never tire of viewing the old buildings, architecture and engineering feats such as canals and locks.... Its not about saying Why, but How....
In through the....
Oldest gatehouse in Cambridge.. 14th century....
Pembroke College....
Home to 700 plus students...
Buildings surround.....
The manicured green....
And standing on the other side...
The first chapel designed by Sir Christopher Wren...
A path lined by...
Shaped Yew trees and a stone wall with character lead to... dunno where...
The layout of buildings lawns and courtyards are...
Moving on to...
Kings College..... Across the green a dinner for Lawyers was being held. Plenty of black capes and Real Leather shoes......
Time was getting on and we just missed being allowed to enter the grounds.....
Gate house entry...The college was founded in 1441 by Henry V1 and the chapel was finished in 1554 under the rule of Henry V111
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College Chapel...
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Waiting for some summer greenery....
Along the road....
Another gate house sporting a clock tower with Sun dials on each face...
Out on the.....
River Cam the punters were taking the punters for a ride....
What comes around goes around.....
One can put it All Right here....
The Holy Sepulchre Church.... 12th century job....
Nice place Cambridge......
