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.

This morning is again grey with a threat of rain and, as we have things to do, we once more stayed close to home.

Cat in Claremont Close
Photo by Tigger

On the way, we passed the end of Claremont Close and there spotted a cat, today’s first. He stopped and gave us a thoughtful stare before disappearing into bushes. Cat score = 1 🙂

Myddelton Square

We took a turn around Myddelton Square, as usual. As you can see, conditions were bright despite the clouds.

The Harlequin

To walked down Arlington Way and noticed something slightly odd as we passed the pub called The Harlequin: an upper window is being held open by an inverted waste bin!

The Shakespeare’s Head vine

We entered Myddelton Passage and looked to see how the pub vine was faring. It’s faring very well indeed, with a luxuriant growth of foliage and bunches of grapes.

The grapes are turning black

The grapes are already turning black and some of them are fairly large. I wonder whether they will ever be edible.

We sat outside the deli

There was a table free at the deli so we consumed our coffee there, watching the toing and froing in the street.

We then set out on a local walk, as we did on Saturday, though by a slightly different route.

A cat atop a wall
Photo by Tigger

As we approached Granville Square, we spied a second cat, a young one resting on top of a wall. Cat score = 2 🙂

Granville Square

We went into Granville Square, a pleasant square of Georgian-style houses with a central garden open to the public.

Riceyman Steps

Here too we find the famous Riceyman Steps, though today we did not descend them as we often do.

Granville Square Gardens

We entered the square’s central gardens, the first time we have done so, I think. There is a large grassy area, borders with shrubs and flowers, and, surprisingly perhaps, a basketball court.

A spider lurks

Among the foliage we spotted this spider lurking and awaiting its prey.

The playground

The gardens also have a quite large children’s playground with climbing frames and a toy train. I have never seen any children here, unlike Myddelton Square whose playground usually echoes to the sounds of children at play.

Percy Circus

Continuing in, we passed another of our favourite places, Percy Circus, with its pleasant round garden. We did not stop here today but I hope we will do so again on other occasions.

We next walked up the path to Bevin Court and here we witnessed a sad sight.

Fallen tree

I mentioned the leaning tree only last Saturday (see A local stroll) and wondered then whether it would one day fall down. I did not expect the answer so soon. It has indeed fallen, though whether this was provoked in some way, I do not know.

Bevin Court

Our way led past the “cliff of apartments” that is Bevin Court. Today, instead of skirting round it, we passed through the grounds. This brought us to the entrance, just as a resident was coming out. We boldly took advantage of the situation and went in. (The door is of course kept locked and non-residents can enter only if a resident deliberately or accidentally admits them.)

Central staircase

We remained in the entrance hall and stayed only long enough to take a few photos. Named after politician Ernest Bevin, it is now a Grade II* listed building.

Curved window

Bust of Ernest Bevin
Photo by Tigger

Lift and address board

As I was taking the last photo, someone emerged from the lift and we took this as our cue to leave. Having slipped in, we now slipped out again, glad to have gained a glimpse inside this icon of 1950s modernist architecture.

After lunch, we set off and, to start with, paid a visit to the deli.

The Curvaceous Tree

I stopped to admire the Curvaceous Tree which was perfectly lit for a portrait shot.

The Never-Give-Up Tree

In Inglebert Street, we saw that the Never-Give-Up Tree had grown noticeably since we last took note of it. They may have cut it down almost to the roots but it is still stubbornly putting forth branches and dressing them with leaves. Who could fail to admire its tenacity?

The sun comes out

It was cloudy when we started out but as we sat with our coffee outside the deli, the sun suddenly appeared and the temperature rose in sympathy.

Lloyd Baker Street

After coffee, we started along Lloyd Baker Street and then Wharton Street, in the direction of King’s Cross.

Acton Street

We crossed King’s Cross Road and walked up Acton Street.

Busy Clerkenwell Road

Then we progressed along a busy Clerkenwell Road and…

King’s Cross Station

…arrived at King’s Cross Station.

Pigeons in waiting

As we passed, I noticed a group of “my friends” (according to Tigger), the pigeons, waiting hopefully for these messy humans to drop food on the ground. I doubt whether they’ll have long to wait.

Crowds of people

As it happens, there were far more people than pigeons, milling about and rubbing shoulders as though the pandemic had never been heard of.

Goods Way

The area adjacent to the station that once received goods and freight has now been redeveloped as a mixed area of residential and office blocks and an arts centre. We walked up this street, which I think is called King’s Boulevard, and sat on a bench for a while.

Regent’s Canal and Granary Square

Thus we reached the Regent’s Canal and, on the other side of it, what was once a goods yards and is now called Granary Square in memory of the grain that used to arrive here and be stored in warehouses.

The new bridge

There used to be a single bridge over the canal but now, since July this year, there are two. The new one is called Esperance Bridge and if you want to know why and other details, there are plenty of references online.

Crossing Esperance Bridge

We crossed the bridge into Granary Square.

Regent’s Canal and old bridge

On the way across, I stopped to take a photo looking along the canal to the old bridge. If this has a name, I have not discovered what it is. “Old bridge” will have to do.

Proud Little Pyramid
Adam Nathaniel Furman

In the square at present (and I don’t know for how long) is an artwork apparently called Proud Little Pyramid for reasons best known to its creator, Adam Nathaniel Furman, currently Artist in Residence at King’s Cross. If you want to know more about it, you will find a typical piece of the usual inflated art-speak blah here.

Passing under St Pancras Station

We now started back, first along one of the new roads called Goods Way and then passing by the tunnel under St Pancras Station to Pancras Road.

A bus stop, hurrah!

I was glad when the bus stop came in sight. We came here to avoid the possible rush and crush at the stop at King’s Cross Station. As it was, we had to go to the back of the bus to find a seat.

Charge your phone here

Give TfL (Transport for London) its due: its buses now have charging points on the backs of the seats so you can replenish your wilting phone battery during the journey. (Just don’t forget to unplug just before you reach your stop!)

Aboard the 214

The 214 duly arrived and carried us, if not fast (the roads in the King’s Cross area are busy in Sunday), at least safely, back to the Angel and home.