Curious about Completely Cool Cambridge?

(Unfortunately I don’t remember too much because the cold kept kids in a catatonic coma.)

Last weekend the Study Abroad program took all the new students on a trip to Cambridge, complete with an hour walking tour. Nice! Unfortunately, it was so cold that most of the free time was spent looking for warm pubs and places to buy mittens and sweaters. However, on the way to places of refuge, we passed the most amazing (at least artistically) architecture I have ever seen. They had statues that could be in any museum on the buildings. There were gargoyles! And the gargoyles were all probably older than Columbus. But don’t quote me on that one. Everything there was just ridiculously ancient.

Mainly, though, I learned about King’s College. And I can sound super-informed because I also have a pamphlet. But don’t tell anyone. So, King’s College has been around for over 550 years. (! Can you believe it?) It was started by King Henry VI, but finished quite a while later by the somewhat skanky King Henry VIII. The screen bears his and Anne Boleyn's initials. That’s obviously a bit of bad timing since they were only married three years before he had her executed. (1533- 1536 for those who are interested.) Imagine how awkward it would be to have made a lovely inscription of a person’s initials who was later beheaded! Everyone would probably look down when they passed. I would anyways. It would be like getting a tattoo of a famous person who later turned out to be a terrorist or something. What can you do?


(An example of the stained glass; Here's judgment day!)

The stained glass is also beautiful and interesting. An interesting part? When they were angry at the Catholic Church they made the panel in which Jesus is being tempted by Satan. Satan is dressed as a Catholic priest with horns showing through his hood. He also has funky, hellish feet. Diss to the Catholics! Also, the maker of the glass must have had a sense of humor because Jesus is barefoot and is about to step on a porcupine. In the desert. Another interesting part? The people all look modern. The funniest example of that is a doctor who is circumcising Jesus. He has glasses! They were pretty advanced back in the day I guess.

Finally, I should probably mention the “spectacular gift to the College”, which is a painting by Rubens- ‘the Adoration of the Magi’. It’s amazing! It's beautiful! You’ll not get to see a picture of it from me, however, since pictures weren’t allowed in there. But, hopefully you’ll now feel the compulsion to go to Cambridge. Even if it’s freezing there it’s wonderful.

Oh, and if you go later in the year when it’s warmer, you can go punting. That’s where the people ferry you along the river with big stick that they push into the bottom of the riverbed. You could even do it yourself if you’re brave! Hopefully I can go back and report what that’s like.