Medieval Cambridge Charms Lutes

Our hotel is very comfortable here in Cambridge, with bigger rooms and a really great breakfast-- The class is already learning that a smaller town of about 100,000 (with 20,000 students) can be an enjoyable change from exploring vast metropolises with populations of over 5 million each (greater London and Paris).

Today we discussed the troubled marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon in class, as well as the relationship between Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.  Each day this week we spend 90 minutes of class time at the hotel, and then explore the city via tours, library visits, or just mini-adventures.  Ruth has been an excellent and enthusiastic guide, as she has visited Cambridge many times and constantly walks around with a smile on her face.

Today we visited St. John's College, Trinity College, Emmanuel College, and King's College on guided tours.  We were able to visit many places closed to the public, and learned about the Tudors and their lives here, as well as what it is like for current Cambridge students and fellows.

Henry VIII's grandmother, Margaret Beaufort, founded St. John's College through an endowment c. 1511, and Henry VIII was active completing King's College.  Each Cambridge school is unique and formed by medieval and early modern architecture.  We saw memorials to John Harvard, who left Emmanuel College to found Harvard in Mass.; Isaac Newton, who was a fellow at Trinity College; Charles Darwin; the men who discovered DNA and split the atom, etc. etc.

We also walked around medieval streets and explored the River Cam, which winds it way through town.  About half of us attended Evensong at King's College Chapel, which is an incredibly beautiful worship space with furnishings showing the initials of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Katherine Howard.  We heard the King's College Choir (comprised of men and young boys, the later of whom sang the soprano parts).  It was breathtaking. 

In the evening, we also visited several pubs in the area, including The Eagle, The Baron of Beef, The Free Press, Avery, and The Tram.  We have become regular game players at The Free Press, playing poker, cribbage, Trivial Pursuit, 21, and other diversions.  Tonight as we left, the regulars said "goodbye", a sign that we are gradually fitting in.  Most of our scholarly PLU students simply look like Cambridge students, going about the work of studying.

We had some fun news today-- Alex was accepted in a Master of Education program back in Washington, and tomorrow is Allison's birthday!!

Here are some great pictures from our Tuesday in Cambridge!

 The interior of St. John's College, Cambridge.

 The so-called "Mathematical" bridge in Cambridge, very near where the group "Pink Floyd" was formed among Cambridge students and residents.

 Jon in St. John's courtyard...

 A plaque near King's College where a pub that Protestants met at--

 Individual photos of Ruth and many students!

Window at Emmanuel College in honor of John Harvard.

Mike H.