Cambridge was settled by the Romans though there is some evidence of pre-Roman activity. Centred initially on the River Cam, Cambridge grew and, in 1209 AD, became the home of Cambridge University. The first Cambridge college, which still exists today, was Peterhouse (1284), a Roman Cathlolic institution. Henry VIII (1491-1547) built Kings College as the first securlar post-secondary institution in England. Admirable as this was, the physical buildings were built of stone from dissolved (and dismantled) monasteries.

All around central Cambridge are reminders of its long history.

Much of the city is occupied by the university. Thus a great majority of the people on the streets today were young people: very young ones learning English as a second language, high school students learning English and upgrading other university entrance courses, and those lucky students actually enrolled in one of the colleges.

On this Saturday, the city buzzed with tourists and groups of young people and not so young people on walking tours. People sitting on a low wall around Kings College and eating eating take-out – Really! Had Henry VIII envisioned this?

I arrived in Cambridge Friday afternoon. My flight out of Seattle was wonderful. I travelled Virgin Atlantic business, and while I would not normally gush about a flight or an airline, this one was pretty fine. The flight attendants addressed me by name and offered me pajamas for the overnight flight. My seat made into a bed complete with mattress pad, pillow and duvet. And my breakfast was served when I woke up, not at some predetermined time. Wow.

Then things turned a little the other way. I had purchased online a round trip ticket on a National Express bus from Heathrow to Cambridge – no going through London, changing buses or trains, no hassle for a jet-lagged traveller. It sounded too good to be true and sadly in this case it was. My bus was an hour late arriving at Heathrow. A collision between a transit van and a motorcycle stopped traffic on the M11 for the better part of an hour. Once the bus got going again, an internal door alarm sounded. The driver pulled over but could not open the door. A little help from a burley passenger solved that problem. When we reached the penultimate stop – alarm sounding the entire way – the door opened but would not close. Fortunately we had stopped at a Cambridge park-n-ride where a shuttle bus to town was waiting and took me to Cambridge city centre for £3. My poor friend Joan wondered what on earth had happened to me!

Today Joan and I wandered about. Being a Saturday the city was full of people – tourists mostly I suspect but some residents too. We wandered through a large market in the aptly name Market Square, and stopped for lunch on the way home where I took a most welcome 2 hour nap.

We also discovered the main branch of Lloyd’s Bank where one can truly bank in style. I fortunately had taken these photos before I was advised that no photos are allowed. Probably due to something like casing the joint. Who me?

The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival (https://www.cambridgeshakespeare.com/) is in full swing and actors dressed in 16th century garb were ever present, handing out brochures. Joan and I plan to catch at least one of these open-air performances.

The weather is lovely – a bit cloudy not too hot, perfect for walking about – and is forecast to remain the same tomorrow. I have no particular plans but I’m sure Cambridge will not disappoint.