Visit Cambridge, England

 

River Cam / Geoff Sutton 2021

Cambridge is the home to Cambridge University, which seems to dominate the city. It’s a beautiful old city where you can enjoy fine food, a punt on the River Cam, peaceful walks, modern shopping, historic buildings, and many museums.

[A Concise History of the University of Cambridge]

As of 2021, Cambridge was the home of more Nobel Prize winners than any other city.

The city has a long history with finds dating to the Bronze Age. Many artefacts document the Roman and Viking times. Henry I granted a town charter around 1120. The university was founded in1209. The construction of King’s College chapel began in 1446 under King Henry VI and continued for several years—eventually, it was completed during the reign of King Henry VIII. It has become a symbol of both the university and the city.

I stopped by Hobson’s Conduit, which is the location of the fresh water brought to the city in the 1600s. Later, the town was a significant site during the Civil War and under control of Oliver Cromwell.

Hobsons Conduit/ Geoff Sutton 2021

The city expanded in the 1800s. Rail service began in 1845. I arrived by rail during my most recent visit.

 Cambridge was an important centre during World War II. The RAF had a training centre and a 1944 meeting at Trinity College included plans for the invasion of Europe.

Codebreaker, Alan Turing, Remembered

Nearby is the only American Cemetery in the UK. The land was given to the United States by Cambridge University--  3,811 American soldiers are buried here. And, 5,127 names are listed on the Walls of the Missing. Link to the US website.

American Cemetery Chapel Cambridge /Geoff Sutton 2021

Left-USAF Veteran John McClaran /Geoff Sutton 2021

Museums

 In a sense, the university is a museum as you observe the magnificent buildings. But there are several museums containing a variety of collections—some focused on a specific discipline.

 Fitzwilliam Museum: A magnificent structure housing a great variety of paintings, art objects, books and manuscripts and more. [Fitzwilliam Museum books]

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambidge / Geoff Sutton 2021

Museum of Zoology: A small but interesting collection of birds, sea animals, insects, and other animals from around the globe. It’s housed in the David Attenborough building. One of the collections on display includes some contributions from Charles Darwin. [Book: Darwin's Fossils]

Darwin's Octopus, Museum of Zoology

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology: The displays in 2021 emphasised the diversity of cultures around the world along with local finds like the Trumpington Cross.

Trumpington Cross

The Polar Museum: This unique museum, Scott Polar Research Institute, focuses on arctic and Antarctic explorations. A copy of a Shackleton expedition lifeboat is outside. [Book: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage]

 

Shackleton Lifeboat Replica

There are several other museums as well.

Churches

Cambridge is home to several historic churches.

Great St Mary's church has been the university church since 1209. It is a Church of England parish in the Diocese of Ely. [Guidebook and History]

Great St Mary's Church, Cambridge

St Bene't's Church has been a place of Christian worship since about 1020.

St Bene't's Church Cambridge

More About Cambridge

 The River Cam offers attractive scenery and an opportunity for boating. There are paths for walkers and famous bridges including the notable mathematical bridge designed by William Etheridge, a master carpenter, in 1748.

River Cam/ Geoff Sutton 2021

There are several streets for shopping throughout the city as well as a market centre and a Grand Arcade on St Andrews Street anchored by John Lewis & Partners. There's a great variety of cafe's, pubs, and restaurants too.

 

Market Centre, Cambridge UK

I enjoyed Nanna's Burrito

Eagle Pub, Cambridge UK

Also, there are several parks and many trails to enjoy.

One example is the Cherry Hinton Brook and Pond by Cherry Hinton Hall close to where I stayed.

Travel Resources

Day Trip: Cambridge is about 60 miles north of London and can be visited as a day trip. I spent part of three days there in 2021 and had visited before.

Visitcamridge.org

Toilets: In addition to pubs and restaurants, toilets can be found in the Grand Arcade and most museums.

Rail Service

I arrived at the historic Cambridge railway station on a Greater Anglia train. The station is CBG on Station Road. The postcode is CB1 2JW. It is a mile SE of the city centre. The station was built in 1845. In 2021, the trip from Kings Cross in London takes about an hour.

Bus Service is available. In 2021, I got around on a Day Saver pass.

Google Map of Cambridge

My web page www.suttong.com

Dinosaur National Monument Utah Colorado

 

Allosaurus at Dinosaur National Monument

As I was visiting the National Parks in Colorado, I couldn't resist heading northwest to Dinosaur National Monument, which overlaps Colorado and Utah.

The Allosaurus is one of more than 1,500 dinosaur fossils visible in the rock face of the Quarry Exhibit Hall. The skull below is from the local quarry. The cast above is from a find in Utah.

The Quarry Exhibit Hall is a large two-story building with walkways on two levels. The photo below give some idea of the size of the exhibit.

In this zoomed photo, you can see some of the detail.

There's an opportunity to "touch the past" suitable for children of all ages.

Outside, you can follow the fossil discovery trail.

Signs along the way point out different finds.

A panorama along the fossil trail.

Here's a short video overview from YouTube

Some basic information about visiting Dinosaur National Monument

Although the monument spans Colorado and Utah, the visitor's center is in Utah. I arrived after lunch and had plenty of time to see the main features. But there are other things to do like camping, other hikes, and river rafting.

Visitor Center

You can walk or take a shuttle between the visitor center and the Quarry Exhibit Hall.

Included Shuttle Service

Enclosed Quarry Exhibit Hall

Back at the visitor center are restrooms, a few exhibits, a short film, and a gift shop.

Visitor Center

There is an entrance fee. National Park passes are accepted.

Please check out my website  suttong.com

And my YouTube Channel SuttonTravels

Some Dinosaur Books

Google Map to Dinosaur National Monument

National Park Service Website https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm

World War II Remembered Understanding WWII by Travel

 

World War II Remembered

Understanding WWII by Travel

Each September I am remined of the Second World War. The war began 1 September 1939 and ended 2 September 1945 thus it lasted 6 years and 1 day.

This page contains links to places that tell the story of World War II. I will update the page as I visit other locations around the world.

**********

I was born in London, England. For me, World War II is personal because my parents, grandparents, and most of my family lived through the war in London or wherever they were sent to defend my homeland. And World War II partly explains why I live in America and not England.

We lived in a house where my mother was trapped in a closet beneath the stairs when a nearby German bomb blast shattered windows and buckled the floor. During my childhood, World War II was an historic family marker—family events were told in terms of “before the war” or “after the war.”

After the US entered the war, an American soldier and one of my mother’s sisters fell in love. They married at a London church near in England.  My aunt joined him in America and, a decade later, my American uncle sponsored us when my parents decided to emigrate.

**********

United Kingdom

Imperial War Museum, London England World War II commands considerable space in the history of British wars.

Imperial War Museum North - Manchester

HMS Belfast, River Thames, London, England

Churchill War Rooms, London, England

Bletchley Park, England Discover the role of British and allied intelligence efforts to break enemy codes.

Castletown D-Day Centre, Portland, England - Interactive Museum of the Dockyard where Americans embarked for Normandy

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridge England

Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, England See stories of the British Navy at war.

Royal Army Museum, London, England Learn the history of the British Army.

Royal Air Force Museum, London, England See the planes that fought in the Battle of Britain and note the tribute to the United States Air Force.

European Continent

D-Day Overview and Timeline

France  

Pegasus Bridge, Benouville, Normandy, France

Utah Beach Normandy, France

Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France

Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France

The Battle of Merville Gun Battery

Grand Bunker Museum, Ouistreham, Normandy, France

Hungary: Shoes on the Danube Memorial, Budapest

 

United States

The United States officially entered World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. The US led the allies in defeating the Axis of Germany, Italy, and Japan.

World War II Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana.

This massive complex tells the story of America at War in Europe and the Pacific in large buildings full of artefacts and audio-visual presentations.

           The Road to Berlin

           The Road to Tokyo

           D-Day at the World War II Museum

           Boeing Center at the World War II Museum

World War II Memorial, Washington, DC

Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC

Truman Library and Museum, Independence Missouri

 See my website www.suttong.com

Check out my YouTube travel Channel

 

Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

 

After arriving, we walked along the South Rim with our friends who hadn't seen the park before.

It was an incredibly hot day despite the date of 20 October 1995. We decided to view the canyon from a plane. The photos don't do the experience justice.

The size is incredible-- a mile deep and 18 miles wide at points. It's hard to see the ribbon of the Colorado River below.

We didn't see a lot of wildlife.

Park notes

It's an incredibly busy park so to stay in the park requires advanced booking.

It is possible to camp in the park.

You can arrive by train-see previous post about the Grand Canyon Railway.

Access can vary depending on the time of year.

There are a lot of trails down into the canyon.

Flyover tours include planes and helicopters

More information at the website

If hiking in the canyon, the trails can be steep so hiking shoes or boots and trekking poles are helpful. Travel gear note.

You might like this book if you are exploring National Parks

Please see my website suttong.com

Check out my YouTube travel Channel

Google Map of Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon Railway Arizona

All aboard for the trip from Williams Arizona to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Our photos are from 30 August 1997.

Looking above the cars as we cross the high desert.

And a look out the window on a curve.

A wild west show is part of the entertainment. 

A final look at a classic locomotive.

Please check out my website suttong.com

Check out my YouTube travel Channel

Notes

The history of the Grand Canyon Railway dates to 17 September 1901.

The 65 mile route cost $3.95

Supplies for building Grand Canyon Village were delivered by train.

The popularity of automobiles ended train service in 1968.

But, passenger service resumed 17 September 1989.

Link to train website

Steamboat Springs Colorado

Steamboat Springs is a quiet Colorado city worth a visit if you enjoy hikes or biking along a river where you can see and smell the hot springs.

Here's a short video of the bubbling springs to help you get a sense of what you would see along the banks of the Yampa River. You'll miss the Sulphur smell until technology improves to record that.

Check out my website suttong.com