The big adventure out of London - part 5

We were warned that Sunday would mean a change in weather. And they weren't kidding.

Helene and Nick came by the motel at 8:30 as planned. The restaurant hadn't opened until 8:00 so I was still eating breakfast -- still no pancakes. Turns out there wasn't much hot water at Harlaxton Manor and the coffee machine wasn't working. Staying at the motel was the best move.

I drove to Cambridge, our big destination for the day. This meant we got to go on the expressway. There were no speed limit signs so keeping up with traffic was the way to go...which was around 70. And they are on miles per hour and not kilometers per hour. Even though we were on an expressway, the A1, there were still round-abouts. They were pretty easy to negotiate. Having lived in Washington, DC helps.

It was a dramatically windy day and you could really feel it even in our little car. By the time we got to Cambridge it was downright cold. The sun was out some but big dark clouds were also around.

Cambridge University consists of several colleges. Most of them have been sponsored by Kings and Queens. There has been a lot of money involved. And they all seem to have chapels. England does have a state church - The Anglican Church - that was established by Henry VIII. The grand-daddy of all the chapels is the chapel at King's College. Stunning doesn't begin to describe it.

One of the most famous features is the fan arches. The picture gives you a glimpse of how amazing it is. Truly gorgeous. The chapel is brilliantly long and brilliantly tall.

The brown wood structure in the picture to the left separates the chapel with the choir on the other side. They are seated on each side with an aisle in the middle.

The organ is also situated in the dividing wall. There is a very large Reubens painting at the end where the altar is located. There are lovely side chapels on the right and a museum of the history of the college on the left side.

The other stunning feature are the windows. The entire
interior is surrounded by windows. The upper set represent images from the Old Testament and the lower set from the New Testament.

And the symbols of the Tudor house are represented throughout. You can just make out the Rose, red dragon, greyhound, and portcullis (gate).

More of Cambridge to follow...