Day 4- From Dust to Dust

Another terrific day-- even if we were almost run off the A46 by one of the lorries (story to come). Gene and Diane are such great guides, they even delivered breakfast today. We enjoyed sweets from one of their favorite bakeries, some fruit, and a few last laughs and recollections of our great days together. Then they pushed the two eaglets out of the nest to fly on their own (oh brother!)-- but Ken did say that (with an English accent).
We visited the amazing Biblical scholar's library there at the Tyndale House then caught our cab to the train station to pick up our car (a VW Polo, like a Golf).

That was a breeze and Ken drove us out of Cambridge like a boss. It's really a very strange feeling to drive (and ride) on the other side of the road and car, not to mentioning shifting with your left hand! I pretty much "hold the phone" and navigate, as in give previews as to what's ahead... and remind him to keep left, but not too far left! He's doing just fine.

Our first stop was Ely ("Elee") Cathedral (thanks Adrienne Meier and Mark and Mary Ann for recommending!). As we walked in we saw a group of kids in period costumes processing. What a spectacular place-- started in 600-something. The central octagon (above the alter, the middle of the cross-- which you really sense in this huge Cathedral) is so beautiful. One panel is out and you can climb up and peak over (I think we should have!). But we spent quite enough time just walking every side of it, taking in the windows and the descriptions of the dignitaries buried there. One of my favorite windows was of Noah's Ark-- I bought a little stained glass ornament likeness of a section of it. As one friend said on FB, "Amazing that Christians have been worshiping God there for over 1,000 years. The Ely Cathedral website says,

"Joyfully proclaiming the love of God in worship, outreach, welcome and care."

We enjoyed coffee, scones and clotted cream at the Refectory Cafe and then walked around Ely's quaint village. Ken was excited to find his cheap Casio watch-- the one that was stolen in our break-in. It was at a funky store called "Argos." You walk in, stand at a desk and shop from a catalog, then press in the item number to see if it's there on the premises. If so, you purchase and pick up! Oh joy! Just 10 English pounds!

So we took off for our 3-hour drive to York. It mainly went well, but we did have a pretty close call with a "lorry"-- a big'ol' truck. Most of the "motorway" entrances are quite generous. but we got caught on a very short one... almost ran out of on-ramp and there was no concession by the on-coming traffic. Can't you people see we're new at this? UGH. I know I built up the drama a bit with my tease, but it was indeed a close call and shook us up pretty bad. But we were much comforted at a "Services" rest stop where we happened to find a restaurant called "The OK Diner"-- like a British attempt at a Ruby's 50's diner. We cracked up when our food came with American flags stuck in them! (They hit the spot as we hadn't had protein yet and it was about 3:30pm... AND we had just nearly been killed!) Anyway, it was tasty and fueled us for the rest of the drive.

We made it to York at 6, and our room at The Ardmore B&B is lovely. We rested a bit and unfortunately missed the walking tour (we should have believed our guide book, not our hostess!), so we just did our own jaunt. We "previewed" the awe-inspiring York Minster Cathedral and can't wait for the 5:15 service tomorrow. We will walk the ancient city walls as well. Rick Steves outlines a pretty good plan for a day visit-- so we'll dutifully obey. (We heard the organ being practiced through a side door!)

WE laughed like idiots at our dinner at El Piano--a Vegetarian, Gluten Free, locally grown, award winning restaurant which-- Jan decided, "tastes like dirt." Ken actually enjoyed his "soya" dish (well, it was served in a bio-degradable corn-husk gravy boat) very much and asked the waitress what kind of meat it was (Doh!). She couldn't explain what soya was or what flavor it was-- so she went and asked the cook. She came back with the answer "wine and herbs" (hard H). Mainly we giggled through the evening because it's fun to say "dirt" with an English accent and if only we had recorded our continuous "dirt" food commentary... I'm sure we'd be embarrassed. (Everyone knows El Piano means, "Of the dirt.") Truth be told it was tasty and a fun new experience. Oh, did we mention the "duhty" cat that kept coming into the dining room? I guess he felt pretty safe there.

Just before we got up to leave, a family with little kids walked out past our table. The little girl (about 4) said, "Mummy, I want a sweetie." The mother smiled at her husband and said to her, "Oh they don't have sweeties here, love." Not quite, cheeky monkey- er, I mean, cheeky carrot. The table next to us had ordered "the brownie" which provided much fodder for our food network show: "And now the gluten free dirt cake with mud sauce." (We think we're hysterical.)
That's quite enough for today. So glad we don't have to drive anywhere tomorrow. There might be some rain-- but we look forward to some time at York Castle Museum, the 5:15 Evensong at York Minister and whatever adventures happen in between!

*Walk through Ely Cathedral in this 30 second time lapse video*