Saturday 9 May 2015

Cambridge v. Oxford

Visiting Cambridge for the first time a few weeks ago, I wondered how it would compare with Oxford which I'd been to often.



It has the same profusion of dreaming spires ...


imposing quads ('courts' here) ...

court of Clare College

grandiose architecture ...

portion of the massive facade of Kings College

anachronisms everywhere



and the same reek of power, elitism and privilege.


But Cambridge's rural setting - surrounding sheep-dotted meadows with the fens beyond,  and the Cam running through its centre - give it an edge of beauty, especially when there's spring sunshine and blossoms.




Cambridge's origins lie just up the road in the cathedral town of Ely (A bishop of Ely founded the first college of Cambridge university, Peterhouse, in 1284) ...


... where a couple of small horses were canoodling sweetly in front of the cathedral in April sunshine and all was prettiness around.



Cambridge and Ely April 2015







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