Easter Break - Week 1
- christinestrike
- Apr 5, 2021
- 7 min read
March 29-Apr 4
" The dogs are better dressed than I am!" exclaimed Genevieve early into our exploring of London.
We biked to the train station in Cambridge Monday March 29 and boarded the 9:09 am train to London's King Cross station. We quickly found platform 9 3/4 as we arrived on platform 10. I made over 26,000 steps exploring even though we did go on a double decker bus and the tube. We made our way from the train station to Regent's Park taking in the Queen Mary rose garden, sitting on a bench in the sun and then off to Hyde Park. We paid our 20p to use the bathrooms and ventured off in search of the Peter Pan Statue finding the Physical Energy Statue, The Albert Memorial, Royal Albert Hall, The Flower Walk, a wonderful shade tree to lay in the grass, throw a frisbee and go barefooted under. After a rest we continued on to Kensington Palace, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and on to Holland Park for the Kyoto Garden with a quick look into the Dutch Garden. I had hoped for a feeling of Zen in the Kyoto Garden but it was quite crowded with a clockwise only walk around the water feature, no stopping on the bridge, with few spaces that were occupied to sit and contemplate. We found a wall nearby to take a break and people watch, many folks out enjoying the beauty of a day. From Holland Park we walked through the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to catch a Double Decker bus to Piccadilly Circus. From there were walked to Trafalgar Square, Canada House (Embassy), the closed National Gallery (I'll be back for you when you open), Chinatown, Swiss Glockenspiel, Carnaby and then onto the Tube back to Kings Cross. Phew.
It was another fantastic day in the big city, even though the streets weren't packed with people I am uneasy with a bit a crowding, a result of the pandemic and isolation. Will being shoulder to shoulder in a crowd feel okay again?
Tuesday was to be the hottest day of the week with temperatures reaching 20*c. It had to be an outside day so the Houghton Mill/St Ives loop was an easy choice. After a quick bike to the bus stop, we missed the bus by seconds, but this allowed us to go up Castle Mound, the tallest hill in Cambridge. There were wedding photos taking place at the top, City Hall is right beside the mound. While on the bus to St Ives a few very excited children boarded on their way to Fenland Park, waving and saying Hiya to folks on the path beside the busway, so much bubbliness, curiosity and wide eyes. Children's excitement is contagious to me, one little girl was seated near me and kept giving me smiley looks, may we all look at others this way. We took a short walkabout in St Ives, enjoying ice cream and crossing the bridge with the Chapel built into it. Soft ice cream is called whippy here and they have chimney cones that are swirled cake for the cone. They had just ran out of chimney cones as our spot in the queue reached the order counter, next time! Heading out on the loop walk started in a field, bringing us past large homes that have a bit of land and fancy cars in each driveway, Maclaren, Ferraris, Jaguars, BMWs, Audis, Porsche, Mercedes and Range Rovers. I've witnessed a few Lamborghinis speeding past around too back near Cambridge. Teenagers were out in full force, gathering in groups, some scantily clad and over indulging but most were enjoying the start of Easter Break in small gatherings having picnics and listening to music. We took a few shaded breaks along the way, sunburns in March, not from downhill skiing, Wow. Dinner was delivery from Wagamama that was delicious. I've found the food that is prepared for us is similar yet slightly different than in Canada. When it comes to dishes from other countries I'm curious how they should or would taste if prepared authentically.
Brighton was on my list of places to visit in England, the famous seaside resort town that Londoners escape to, bachelorette and stag parties take place here, lauded as the hippest city, vibrant arts and culture, is known for its LGBT community, and being the unofficial gay capital of the UK. I had high hopes. Wednesday morning we biked to the train station and caught the 9:24 twelve car train with few passengers to Brighton, a 2 hour and 20 minute trip. I settled into writing, Aaron working and Genevieve reading. Spring green, as my Grandmother would say, is starting to show in the trees, blossom trees are full and seeing brick houses has become familiar along with sheep on gently rolling green hills. I enjoy the sway of the train, my ears pop as we go through tunnels and I get startled by the rumble of trains passing going the opposite way. When we arrive in Brighton the station feels exciting, it feels like how a seaside stop should feel in my imagination. The day is hazy and a relief after two days spent in the sun. The beach is pebbly and I found a hag stone, a scared object with many legends surrounding its formation and use. Brighton is a great place for people watching. The air feels different by the ocean, I didn't smell salt but it is refreshing and I can see why going to the sea was a medical recommendation. The boardwalk has a Venice Beach feel, I loved the arts quarter, little galleries and working studios with roll down shutters. Railings are painted a Cambridge blue, old and remoulded by the salty air. There are plenty of seagulls bidding their time for a dropped chip. The Brighton Marina is massive, its own village, with a maze of docks and condos where you can park your boat right outside. I loved the walk under the White Chalk Cliffs, an iconic site. We drew with chalk pebbles along the water break wall and I felt small both below and above the cliffs.
Brighton wasn't the shiny place I imagined, it was worn and tired. I enjoyed its history and potential it had and has.
A day at home, laundry, mending and resting the body was welcome on Thursday. No April Fools pranks were played. I finished listening to Abby Wombach's book Wolfpack, I recommend it. I like the way of thinking about women not trying to fit in to the world males have created but instead creating their own ways, spaces and places. Not asking for a seat the table but building their own table. I went for a supermarket shop up in the evening, on the way home I heard music where the bike path ends. I could see lights through the hedges and was compelled to stop. There were two musicians and an emcee in front of a video camera. A very special feeling to take in a moment of live performance. The BBQ area near our flat is available for bookings, each evening there are small groups, pleasant sounds of students conversing and sharing a meal. A few more folks have moved in or back to the College. While out for a walk one lady asked us if we'd be interested in a BBQ picnic someday, YES! I feel like my ability to socialize needs to be exercised after 3 solitary months of communication only with family and a couple of friends.
The train left the station at 9:12 am, not a minute later or sooner to Norwich on Friday, with us aboard. We were on the Greater Anglia service, a lovely train with tables and comfy seats. I saw the impressive Ely Cathedral from the train and look forward to a visit there soon. We passed through a forest, odd how the trees are all in rows, I don't think an inch of this country hasn't been touched by humans at some point. Norwich is beautiful, a 'City of Stories'. We were to meet a guide for a walking tour at the large outdoor market across from the looming City Council building, he was a no show. We guided ourselves around and found many interesting sites. You can stand almost anywhere and see a church if not three. Aaron read that at one time the town boasted 700 pubs. Norwich is one of the best preserved Medieval towns in the UK. We walked on cobblestone roads and attended a Good Friday meditations service at the impressive Norwich Cathedral about why Good Friday is good, it was lovely and touching. The Cathedral was started to be built in 1096, history at a length that I don't experience in Canada and have a hard time wrapping my head around. We completed our discovering of Norwich by walking along the river, often having to divert around construction and blocked off paths back to the train station.
I enjoyed a drink with my husband and conversation with friends back in Winnipeg later in the evening, technology is wonderful for keeping in touch,
Saturday was a day of rest and reset. Writing, short walks, resting and downtime. I looked after our seedlings and propagated some more mint, I'm pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to root. I have been using it for fresh mint tea, something I had not tried before living here and quite enjoy it.
Hiding Easter treats is harder now that my daughter stays up later than me but I still love doing it. We tend to travel on Spring break so Easter hunts have happened more times away from home than at home. It was nice to be settled and feeling comfortable in our flat for Easter this year. We enjoyed a bit of a sleep in, I don't miss the early early wake ups for special occasions, enjoyed a lovely breakfast cooked by Aaron and then were off to an Easter Sunday Service at the Great St Marys Church. It was a lovely service relating the pandemic to the rising of Christ, as someone who has not attended much I found the words comforting and reassuring. The pandemic isn't an end or a finish, it too will be over and we all will rise again. We then wandered into the sunlight taking in the day, pausing to sit in a park rating dogs' cuteness, eventually heading home to prep for dinner and online chats with family. Happy Easter!
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