Katy and I went walkies in the city center today. I really, really, REALLY wish I'd bought my camera with me. The colleges are… beautiful, stupendous, mindblowing. I really want to go explore them when I have a bit more time. Shopping-wise, I'm in booze heaven.
The wine store has a wall full of scotch bottles I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF BEFORE! And then I saw it. The bottle I'm enjoying right now. The bottle that freaked Katy out when she saw the price. The bottle that's making me rather tipsy after 2 ounces (remember, this is cask-strength). Oh, and did I mention the cigar? hmmmmm, hedonism is fun once in a while.
There's an outdoor arts & crafts market that's there every saturday on the weekends that I really need to go patronize in the following weeks. There are some framed prints that caught my eye that I want to go buy.
Finally, there's a little indian shop that's chok-full of goodies to tempt the senses and whittle the wallet.
And guess who's gonna turn alcoholic? ;D
(http://livejournal.com/users/sbourge)
Is that a photo of one of the Cambridge Wine Merchants stores? looks like it but I can't be sure…
If you can, try to make it into the city centre on a weekday.. much, much less busy!
(http://livejournal.com/users/suzn)
when i was looking at apartments with my dad, we visited the city centreon a week day. it was so nice and sedate. we caught a ereally nice day as well. but yesterday was insane! and yes it is the cambs wine mercahnts.
(http://livejournal.com/users/petkatyyazzick)
yes, it is. And with my schedule, the weekend is all that I can do these days :) I think there was a graduation ceremony of some sort happening on daturday because people with robes were walking everywhere.
(http://livejournal.com/users/talisker)
Yeah, I saw some of those people graduating too… no idea why they were doing it at this time of year. My friends and I were laughing because the tourists were taking pictures of the graduates through the bars of the senate house fence (the senate house is that white building in the centre across from St Mary's) and it looked a little like a zoo. People in (less fancy) robes are also common in the evenings as they head to formal halls.
I was going to say that since The Boy works part-time at Cambridge Wine Merchants he can get 25% off of products… but then I realized that I don't actually know you guys. But if you are planning any expensive purchases something can probably be arranged!
(http://livejournal.com/users/suzn)
It's crazy how much Cambridge changes from weekday to weekend. And from what I hear, it'll be getting busier and busier as summer approaches. You can hardly walk in the streets!
(http://livejournal.com/users/suzn)
I'm used to crowds in downtowns :) gives ambiance.
(http://livejournal.com/users/talisker)
well, I've already made an expensive purchase :) but I'll gladly take you up on that offer. As for not knowing us guys, we could change that one night over coffee :)
(http://livejournal.com/users/talisker)
eep! i'm not a huge fan of big crowds. i'm just going to have to do what i did while i was in chester and stat finding little shortcuts!
(http://livejournal.com/users/petkatyyazzick)
that would be fun. the coffee i'm sure can be substituted to A beverage of your choice (we also happen to have rather a lot of tea of many varieties).
(http://livejournal.com/users/petkatyyazzick)
Yes, we should do this! Maybe sometime next week or the following weekend? I know you two have less flexible schedules than I do…
And you should have seen Cambridge this morning… complete ghost town. So different than yesterday!
(http://livejournal.com/users/suzn)
the next two weekends are fully booked, but one evening is indeed possible. if not the afternoon/evening on the monday bank holiday
(http://livejournal.com/users/petkatyyazzick)
Most of the colleges will be closed weekdays (and quite possibly weekends as well) because it's exam term: I'd suggest if you want a wander round go in Sunday morning, it will be nice and quiet, even after the shops open (most should be open by midday, we're all filthy heathens around here and ignore the Sabbath.)
Gonville and Caius, although it doesn't look like much from the outside, has beautiful gardens tucked away inside, incidentally. Have you seen the old brothel carvings yet?
(http://livejournal.com/users/jenlittlebottom)
brothel? no, can't say that I have :)
(http://livejournal.com/users/talisker)
Bridge street – cross the river, going vaguely north, and onto Magdalene Street – there's a bunch of old timbered buildings on the left. One of them (I think it's the fancy-arse clothing store next to/near the store that sells old coins) has a bunch of veeeery interesting old wooden carvings if you look up.
I'm not sure if it really was a brothel, or if that's just hearsay and rumour etc: the Pickerel Inn, which is on the same street and is the oldest pub in Cambridge, has similar rumours attached. Maybe that was the red light district of Cambridge way back when?
(http://livejournal.com/users/jenlittlebottom)