To Grantchester and Back

After our concert this afternoon, Andrew and I went for a long walk through the Grantchester meadows, green pastures that run along the River Cam right outside Cambridge.  Many people were out on this spring-like day; British voices accompanied our walk, softening the green, making the pastoral stroll even more idyllic.  We arrived at The Orchard, a historic tea house in the outskirts of Cambridge where one can get a low lying table under the flowering trees, picnicking as many famous people of the past had done over the past century since its founding, including Virignia Woolf, Watson and Crick, John Cleese, Prince Charles and dozens of others.  We enjoyed Twinings tea, and though quite disappointed that they we're out of scones, we made do with a Bakewell cake, a sweet cake with raspberry jam and marzipan topping.

We walked back through the meadows and into town, stopping in a candy shop that was filled from floor to ceiling with mysterious delectable treats.  Behind the counter were huge jars of licorice, fudge, gobbstoppers, chocolates.  We decended the wrought iron spiral stairs to the basement to discover more incredible treats and teas.  The overwhelming possibilities and a fast approaching closing time allowed us to somehow leave empty-handed but my eyes will not forget, and surely I will return.  

We continued our walk further into town and found our destination Japanese restaurant to be so filled that we chose not to wait the hour-and-a-half.  We will have to return another day and perhaps find another curry on the way.  

Cambridge is so full of possibilities and experiences. Restaurants, teas, landscapes, people and ideas. Everywhere we go it seems that there are people who know Andrew, such is the nature of a small town where everyone is collaborating with one another.  They stop and share new ideas about apps they are designing, or recitals they want to give, or asking about performances of his recent musical Science! about life in the lab, something to which many people here are sympathetic.  

It's wonderful to be in the culture and the graces of this beautiful city.