Day 13: Cambridge

My alarm clock goes off at 7:15 am so that we can leave the campsite at 9 am on time. Today we're using public transportation and will be in the city center in half an hour. Then we head straight to the starting point of our punting tour. In preparation for our trip, I inquire about the best options, and we decide on a self-guided boat tour. We're ahead of schedule. Cambridge currently has 31 colleges, and our route takes us past at least 4 of the campuses. René is doing a great job. He stands at the back of the boat and steers it with a long pole. The pole is used as a propeller by sticking it into the ground. We pass under many bridges, with the Sign Bridge and the Mathematical Bridge being the most beautiful of them. The Sign Bridge is similar to the bridge in Venice. So we punt across the River Cam and enjoy the beautiful weather. The universities pass by us. After about 30 minutes, we turn around and take a break. Before the tour, we buy cinnamon rolls, called Chelsea Buns, at Fitzbillies and enjoy the sweet pastries. Now we retrace our steps the same way. We see other amateurs on the punts having big problems. They zigzag on the river. Fortunately, we start our tour early, and in the afternoon, there are many boats around.
After 70 minutes, we're back at the starting point. Then we stroll along the main street. The colleges can be visited, but admission must be paid for each one. For now, we'll skip that. St. Mary's Church offers a 31-meter high tower that can be climbed, so we climb the 123 steps in a narrow spiral staircase and get a great overview of Cambridge and its historical buildings. Afterwards, the marketplace with its many stalls offers a wide range of food from different areas. We choose one and take a break. Now we want to cross the Mathematical Bridge, but we have to pay admission to Queens' College for that. Fortunately, the children can enter without admission, and we pay £5 per person. The old complex of buildings from 1446 impresses with its half-timbered houses and cloisters. Everything is meticulously maintained, especially the lawn and flower beds. We get a glimpse of the old hall, which has been modified several times over the years. Then we cross the Mathematical Bridge and read that the myths about the bridge are false. The name and the construction are not mathematical, as it is held together with bolts and screws. Nevertheless, it is beautiful to look at, and we still explore the other side of the river. There are 2 rocking chairs on the riverbank. When we discover them, Erik and I start running. When I arrive, I sit on the 2nd chair and promptly fall over. To the laughter of my family and the tourists watching the spectacle from the boat, I can only free myself from my predicament with René's help.
Afterwards, I prefer to sit on a safe bench.
After the visit, we decide to visit the nearby free museums. The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is a small exhibition with some excavations such as locks, pots, etc., as well as a collection of objects from indigenous peoples around the world. After half an hour, we switch to the Fitzwilliam Museum. The neoclassical building alone is stylish. We focus on two exhibitions, the armor and weapons from the 15th and 16th centuries, and the Egyptian section with several sarcophagi and the tombstone of Ramses III. That's enough for us today, and we slowly end our tour. We originally planned to attend a mass where the choir of King's College would sing. But due to the holidays, this event will not take place again until September. So we look for the bus stop to return. We quickly find the bus and are glad to be back by 5 pm. We still cook our dinner, and the children play together. Cambridge is a beautiful city and we really like it.