For supper, rather than prospecting in town, we decided to try the hotel restaurant that doubles as a coffee bar. As an incentive, there is a 10% discount on meals for hotel guests.

In the restaurant

We ordered and paid at the counter and chose a table by the window.

The sunset – just visible

From where we sat we could just see the sunset. We didn’t watch it for long, however, as the food arrived and claimed our attention!

Thus ends the first day of this trip. Good night, Cambridge!

Out in the streets

We eventually bestirred ourselves and went out. In the streets, we prospected for somewhere for lunch. We hit on a place called Stem & Glory (“gloriously plant-based”), a vegetarian restaurant of, I think, Korean cuisine.

Inside Stem & Glory

You can order at the table via a QR code but we ordered first at the counter while they found us a table.

Lunch, Korean Vegan style

Above is what we ordered as our main course. Having given back the menu, I am unable to say what it’s called.

Dessert with fruit

This dessert looked like cheesecake but, of course, it wasn’t. It was a rather stodgy cake with various fruits. A little disappointing perhaps, because of my unrealistic expectations of what it would be like.

Our Lady of the Assumption

We now embarked on a long walk through the town. I took a few photos here and there without any particular plan.

Peeping through the gates of Downing College

University Arms Hotel

Grand Arcade

We entered the Grand Arcade looking for somewhere to sit, such as a public bench, but we were out of luck.

Bridge of Sighs

There were some sand sculptures on display, including this one of the Bridge of Sighs.

Planets

Market and church

We left the arcade and passed by the market with Great St Mary’s in the background.

The old Free Library

Starbuck’s, Grand Arcade

Not finding somewhere to sit, we returned to the Grand Arcade and bought drinks at Starbuck’s. Needs must where the devil drives. At least they have a customer toilet.

Parker’s Piece

We took to the streets again but, finding a vacant bench, paused here at this open space called Parker’s Piece.

The old Bath House

We now started on a longish walk back to the hotel. We passed this old bath house on the way, now recycled for other uses.

Devonshire Road

I was glad when we turned down this street, Devonshire Road, which leads to our hotel. (I have not yet recovered my pre-Covid walking form and am not sure I ever will.)

Hotel lounge

Before ascending to our room, we decided to sit for a while in the hotel’s pleasant lounge and found comfortable chairs to rest in.

Home from home

We have returned to our room for a little (well earned) rest. In a while, we will decide what to do for supper but for now it’s time to relax and enjoy being on holiday.

On Sunday we performed only a “short shop” for reasons that I said I would explain later. Here is the explanation: we are going out of town for a few days, leaving today and returning on Friday. Our destination is the ancient university city of Cambridge.

Aboard the 205

Although our train leaves just before 10 am, we left home at 7:50 as it’s better to wait at the station than cut it fine and risk delays en route.

Liverpool Street Station

A 205 bus delivered us safely to Liverpool Street Station. Here I am trying to photograph the station while crossing the road on a busy pedestrian crossing.

Camden Food Co

We had breakfast at Camden Food Co. What did we have? Guess!

Coffee and croissants

Yes, we had our traditional breakfast of coffee and croissants.

Pigeon looking for breakfast too

A pigeon came in and scouted around for crumbs.

Boarding the train

Still with plenty of time in hand, we went to board our train.

Aboard the train

We easily found seats at a table though the rack turned out to be too narrow for our cases. We had to put these under the table, robbing us of leg room, The lack of adequate space for luggage is increasingly a fault of modern train design and something that mystified me. Do they think passengers have no luggage?

A view from the train

The countryside streams past the window. (And Tigger’s hand in reflection.)

Cambridge Station

Just over an hour after departure, we arrived at Cambridge. We walked to the hotel expecting to have to wait until 2 pm to check in. However, they already had a room prepared and we went straight up.

In the room

It wasn’t long before we had the nice tidy room cluttered as we like it. We made tea and relaxed. At some point, we will go forth and look for lunch. More anon.