Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Hogwarts (Cambridge)

The weekend after Snowdonia, Rebecca and I travelled to Cambridge to visit some of the scholars there.  Though I had heard about how picturesque it was, I was still not ready for how shockingly pristine it would be.

The grounds are kept in near perfect condition.  In the courtyards, the "greens" are strictly off limits for anyone to walk on except university professors.  The buildings themselves are spectacular examples of Gothic architecture and house some of the most brilliant minds of the world.  While I was touring Keynes College, we walked by Stephen Hawking's office window.

One thing that was painfully clear while visiting Cambridge is how insulated from reality it is. All beer and food is subsidized for the students, they go to class in castles, and the many endowments for wine or port mean that every Thursday night members of a college go to a college sponsored tasting event where they wear capes and gowns.  I might be a little jealous, but I wonder what it's like for graduates as they return to the real world. It also makes me more aware of why academics get a reputation for living in an "ivory tower", especially in the UK.

It was great to visit the Marshall's there and to see the incredible work they're doing. I'm definitely a little jealous that Manchester isn't as jaw-dropping as it is here, but I probably feel more at home in the gritty city up north. Check out the photos below!


Stephen Hawking's Office


Dining Hall at Keynes


King's College


The Hogwarts style dining hall at King's. I told my friend she should sit on my side of the table so they could have this view.  The response was "Oh it's ok, I eat here all the time."


King's College Chapel


The Fan Vault Ceiling of the KC Chapel


The Chapel Continued


Darwin College


Darwin College dining hall.  People eat here regularly.


"Punting" is a favorite pastime during the warmer months.


Jesus Christ College



No comments:

Post a Comment