Cambridge and pictures for Mom!!!

I spent the past few days visiting some friends in Cambridge, England. It was weird being in a place where everyone drives on the left side of the street! I constantly felt like we were about to be in an accident! It was also very strange to hear English everywhere I went. The English country side is absolutely amazing; everything is green! Here are a few pictures from my time there…

In front of a cathedral at Cambridge

Hi Mom

A river with a cobbled base that was used to transport goods... now people go punting here

Statue of some famous people at Cambridge..

There had been a lot of rain so the river was flooded (the trees are not usually in the water)

Cute kid playing in a huge lawn

Older women checking out a fun statue

A huge slug (next to a 2pence piece). These guys are every where!

Incredible stained glass window in a cathedral built in the 11th century (with additions and remodels as late as the 18th century)

The British people are really serious about honoring and remembering those who died in war. These flags were flown by different regiments in the first World War. They are hanging in the Ely cathedral

This stained glass picture is in the corner of a larger window. The glass artists were so impressed with their work that they made this little tribute to themselves. This picture is a man designing stained glass.


This is the larger part of the stained glass window.



Hi Mom!

We took a tour of an octagonal tower in one of the cathedrals. The original tower fell when underground water tables fell and this tower was added later. The engineering in the tower was amazing; the total weight was over 42 tons (21 tons of wood covered in 21 tons of lead). This view is from about half way up on the outside of the tower

view looking down from half way up (inside the tower)

The view looking up

Looking across.

The panels with the angels are hinged so that they can open. Several centuries ago the choir would open the panels and sing from way up here!

Hi Mom (again)!

This is the view from about 3/4 up the tower. This is as high as we went. There were still about 60 to go to get to the top.

All of the cathedrals and churches had tombs and crypts in them. This is the tomb of someone who died of the Black Death in the 1300s.

This is another crypt. A lot of the crypts have sculptures on them but this was by far the funniest.

We went to an old farm where rare British livestock breeds are bred. This is the view from the steps of the old house on the farm.


Hi Mom

I love this cow! He is really furry and cute! He had a hurt foot, but he was still pretty playful when the other cows frolicked to go eat (seriously, they frolicked, not ran, not walked, skipped and frolicked. It was great)


Castle ruins?


Nope, FAKE castle ruins built to make the veiw from the house more picturesque. I am sure there is some sort of life application lesson here....

Friendly swan. This guy came up to say hi. We also saw ducks, fish, snails, and a weasel at this pond.