Kings College

Angela Tennant
Week 1

After arriving safely in Cambridge, and making the successful transition into their time zone, this group was ready to explore the town!

On our first tour we hopped aboard a popular tourist attraction called the Green and Cream, which happens to be an open top double decker bus. Despite the wind and cold, many of us braved a ride on the top, which is completely open!

Our first stop on this tour was at American Cemetery. We browsed through the names on the large wall, containing names of American soldiers who lost their lives in World War II. It was a ssomber experience for many, but a truly beautiful and enjoyable place to be. On the ceiling and wall of the chapel, we were able to view a wonderfully colorful mosaic, as well as a map containing strategies of all the countries involved in the war.

After leaving the American Cemetery we hopped on the bus once more for a drive back into town. Upon our arrival in "downtown" Cambridge, we were split into two groups, and we set out on a walking tour of the different colleges.

Along the way, one of the groups was able to watch a spectacle of students attempting to punt on the Cam River. It was quite a sight to watch, as they battled the force of gravity, and a monster of a tree along the riverbank! Just a few meters from where we were standing, was also the Mathematical Bridge. It a funny little bridge made of wood, that crosses over the River Cam. The funny part about it is not so much its appearance, as much as it is the story behind it. This bridge was built in an earlier century, without the use of any nails or fasteners. However, because of the fact that we have a hard time leaving well enough alone, this bridge was dismantled in modern times, to see how it worked. Obviously not much was discovered, because upon the reassembling of this bridge, many nails and fasteners were needed.

Next on our walking tour, we walked past and through many of the colleges that make up the University of Cambridge.

Three of the colleges that stood out were St. John’s College, Trinity College, and King’s College.

St. John’s college is unique in the fact that it has a bridge, resembling the Bridge of Sighs, which extends over the river Cam. The original Bridge of Sighs in Venice was used by guards to walk prisoners over to their execution, hence the name bridge of "sighs." This may also explain the bar like structures that cover both sides of the bridge.

What makes Trinity College so interesting to visit is not so much what it contains inside the gate, as much as what is mounted on the outside. Above the entrance to Trinity college, is mounted, a statue of Henry VIII. What, you ask is so interesting about that? Well, as crazy as this may sound, it is the truth. It turns out that some adventure driven students decided that it would be funny to steal the scepter that Henry the eighth holds in his hand. They were successful, and so were many other groups of people after that, but the funny part is one incident in particular. This is the incident where the scepter was stolen by a group of people, who replaced it with the leg of a chair! Strangely enough, there it still stands Henry the eighth, with a chair leg in his hand!

Next on our little adventure, we found our way over to King’s College, probably the largest and richest in beauty of all the stops we made that day! King’s college chapel was primarily our destination at that college, as it is know for its magnificent stained glass windows, wood carvings, and size! Once inside we were able to look at carvings of roses and initials that were said to have represented the reign of the Tudor family. What a sight! The windows were beautiful with color, and the ceiling was brilliant with design. King’s College Chapel was one of the most powerful places I have ever set foot in, as I have never myself felt so small and insignificant. The place in its entirety was a beautiful representation of the gothic period, with its arched windows and wood carvings. I don’t know about anyone else, but I sure felt as if one might be able to reach God, standing on top.

Some of the other colleges we were able to visit included Clare College, Queens' College, and Christ's College. All three were also very beautiful places.

Next on our tour we were able to see the Eagle Pub, where the crew of the Memphis Belle shared many drinks and laughs while on duty overseas in WWII. Inside on the ceiling are the names of the crew written in cigarette burns. This reflects the importance of this region as a US bomber base during World War II.

Finally after a long brisk walk through the town, the group met back up at a restaurant called Brown’s, where we enjoyed coffee, tea, french bread, and for Adam, a goat cheese salad!

Overall, the whole day was an experience that I will remember and cherish forever!