Cambridge, May 22

 

Meaghan took the morning off and we drove partway to the Cambridge University Botanical Gardens and walked around it. It was created in 1831 by John S. Henslow, Charles Darwin's mentor. We saw an apple tree which is a direct clone of Newton's apple tree. We saw Britain's first redwood. We had a tea (we had scones, too) in the cafe and then, after going through the glass houses, Meaghan took off for work. We wandered the gardens for a while longer on our own.

 

    From there we walked to the Fitzwilliam museum, the art and antiquities museum of the University. We had already walked quite a lot and had recently visited the Egyptian Museum in Turin, so we skipped the antiquities section.

   There was an exhibition of pottery which is where we started. One room was devoted to an exhibit of parianware, a bisque porcelain which is not particularly stable. An artist, Matt Smith, assembled many parian ware busts of famous people, considered heroes in the 19th century.  However, history has not judged many of these people kindly in retrospect. Behind 6 series of busts, was specially designed wallpaper depicting the cruelties that happened as a result of these "great" people. The events included the Opium Wars, famine in India and in Ireland etc etc. It was powerful.

    Then we went through some of the permanent art on display, staying longest, as we always do with the Impressionists.
     From there we walked into town and ate at the Pho restaurant again as we liked it so much the previous day. We shared an Asian chicken salad and some spring rolls. We bought a "Free Dobby" bag for the Hutcheson clan and walked home after stopping along the river to watch some more punting.
   Curry stayed home from doggy daycare today, so we played with him and took him for a bit of a walk.
   It was another large walking day! And, another sunny day, although a bit cooler than yesterday.
    We got Indian take-away for dinner and had an early night. Meaghan was out practicing roller derby and we never heard her come in.