The Ship of the Fens

Today we got a minicab to Stansted Airport and hired our car. There were some glitches. The car is a Citroen. We couldn't find the door handle. We couldn't find reverse gear. Between us we have a zillion years of driving, but those damned French confounded us. We drove up into Cambridgeshire, to Fenstanton, where we are staying at the Blue Cow.

The Blue Cow

We then drove off into the fens in search of Ely cathedral. The car is a computer with wheels. Between it and the Satnav, it is a bit like a friendly Big Brother - it whistles and chirps and beeps happily - "Shut the boot", "you are in reverse", "this is a safety camera zone", "three seat-belts are undone" and "you are 1 metre above sea level". You find yourself saying, "What! What now for ______'s sake!"

 

Our nagging frog car

The fenland is flat. Every so often you realise that you are driving on a roadway raised above very low-lying fields. Then you cross a canal/sluice which is ABOVE the level of the fields. Intriguing.

Ely Cathedral, the improbably Gothic, "ship of the fens" is lovely.

Ely Cathedral

We had our first pub meal - roast beef and a "half" for me. Then we hovered outside while dignitaries walked in procession for the big annual service for justice.

It was the full deal - massed choirboys, silly hats, shiny black shoes with giant buckles, the organ with all the stops out, an address by that bloke who was a hostage in Lebanon for 8 years and stirring hymns and two verses of God Save the Queen. The public were not really welcome - there were 800 invited guests - but by looking suitably respectable and devout, and because we were dogged, we weasled our way in. Lyn was pleased that the Pope got a mention and we got both St Francis' and St Ignatius prayers sung at us. 

After all the tizziness of Roman interiors, I must say I find the relative austerity of English churches more to my tastes. So 'Huzzah!' for Oliver Cromwell and his lads.

We are back in Fenstanton and Lyn explored the village. She just returned all excited to tell me that they have allotments here.

Cambridge and St Ives tomorrow and another round with our nagging frog car. But first, there will be a full English breakfast.