From King’s College Chapel to a punt gone wrong — our Cambridge adventure.
What a hoot! A punt on the Cam that went hilariously sideways (literally), a catch-up with family, a wander through a majestic chapel, and the fluffiest bed this side of Fawlty Towers… our weekend in Cambridge was quite the adventure!
Hi there, lovely readers!
Don’t the Brits usually flock to Majorca, the Lakes District, or the Cotswolds for their holidays? “Nope, all a myth — it’s Cambridge, mate!” laughed our travel buddy as we dodged endless tour guides shepherding their gaggles through the narrow cobbled streets as their devoted flocks stared with open mouths at the majesty of the Universities.
Had the staff at our new digs not been wrestling with “newbie syndrome” at check-in, we’d have launched earlier and beaten the crowds. Instead, we waded through the masses and climbed into our punt for a merry jaunt down the River Cam.
Punting on the Cam
Our punting chauffeur was a pro, guiding us past centuries-old colleges, spires, and bridges, while sharing tales of famous alumni and quirky Cambridge lore. Then came the highlight: a self-hired punt overloaded with family, dogs, and six-packs, wedging itself sideways under a bridge. Cue chaos — punts bumping like dodgems, passengers shrieking with laughter, and one disgruntled duck side-eyeing us when we collided with its rock. Comedy gold. Such a schadenfreude moment! I was reticent to capture the culprits’ embarrassment on film, lovely readers. The smile on my face as I write this leaves an indelible memory.
Naturally, the drama was recapped later with a soothing G&T in hand.
Wandering Amongst Genius
Cambridge isn’t just pretty streets and punting chaos — it’s a living brainbox of a city. Of course, I just had to share a few interesting facts for those considering going, memories for those who have been….did you know:
- People have lived here since the Bronze Age, thousands of years before the university.
- The University of Cambridge has been shaping minds since 1209.
- It’s made up of 31 colleges, each with its own traditions, rivalries, and quirks.
- With 120+ Nobel Prize winners, it’s basically a Nobel factory.
- Alumni include giants like Newton, Darwin, and Hawking — talk about rewriting science as we know it!
- The breathtaking King’s College Chapel is Gothic glory at its finest, complete with the world’s largest fan-vaulted ceiling.
- The Eagle Pub is where Watson and Crick announced DNA’s double helix over a pint. Cheers to that!
- The Corpus Clock features a giant grasshopper — the “Chronophage” — literally devouring time as it ticks.
- On Parker’s Piece, the first rules of modern football were hammered out. (Yes, Cambridge gave us the beautiful game.)
- And if all else fails? There’s always punting — equal parts serene, scenic, and spectacularly slapstick.
Life Between the Stones
Beyond the fun facts, Cambridge is a joy to wander: coffee and people-watching on Market Square, leafy strolls through college gardens, and that first glimpse inside King’s College Chapel, which stopped us in our tracks.
Dinner with family, much laughter and reminiscing, a little too much wine and finally – collapsing into that deliciously fluffy bed… Cambridge, you charmer, you.
