First Full Day in Cambridge & Punting
Today was spectacular.
It started by waking up refreshed because I slept very long and well last night--probably about 12 hours on a very comfortable bed. After waking up, I took my first shower in the stall in my bathroom. We're all friends here, so I will explain how awkward it was trying to get all the nooks and crannies of your body with a soapy loofah in one hand and the detached shower head in the other hand while aiming the water flow towards the front of the bathtub because the shower stall only covers the front half of the bathtub. Challenging, indeed. I then got ready, had tea with Carrie and Ian, and ventured with Ian to the shops that are just a short walk away from home. There's ASDA, which is like Walmart (and I think owned by Walmart?) and there is Marks and Spencer, which is a more expensive, but more healthy, choice for food.
We then went punting! First we rode our bikes (Ian, Carrie, and I) into the city centre.
SUCH a beautiful city--I can't really fully explain it. Everything is so old and quaint, but it still feels modern because of the students, I think. We passed King's College where there were students "queued" getting ready to graduate! What a great experience to see that.
We got on the punt and spent a good amount of time on the River Cam. Again, so incredibly beautiful. The views on the river showcase the backs of the colleges and the architecture is just stunning. The bridges are gorgeous. There were a lot of people out punting today; it was so lovely.
I took a go at punting and it's really hard! I think I'll try it again at some point. I'm told that the boys will be impressed if I know how to punt and we all know that's one of my main objectives while here. Ha!
After that, we rode our bikes to a pub that is near Ian and Carrie's place, Cambridge Blue. A very cool place. I had a "real" ale, which was good. Ale/lager/beer isn't really my thing, but I'll try them as they come at me. A really interesting thing is that pubs are a totally different culture than bars here in England. Carrie and Ian have both told me that the purpose of a pub is not to get drunk like you would at a bar--it's just to socialize and have a good time by loosening up and chatting. It's a pleasant atmosphere and I enjoyed it. I hope for more encounters at the pub.
After the ale, Carrie and I rode home (Ian stayed back to drink another ale and read the newspaper, as husbands often do to get away from their wives, according to Carrie) and I made a trip back to the stores to get some groceries. It was good to walk around a bit and feel like I knew where I was going. It was strange being alone in a supermarket that feels pretty similar to those at home, except extremely different at the same time. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon enough.
Overall, a really great day full of many firsts. Splendid.