Sandringham, Castle Rising, and the North Sea - August 21, 2016

Today was our last excursion of the trip. For the next four days we will be in Cambridge - classes begin in the morning and I believe we are all ready for some truly exciting stuff. But first ....

We boarded our bus at 9:30, truly the best bus ever. It had little tables with cup holders! A coffee bar! WiFi (which didn't really work)! And so we set out for Sandringham, the Queen's country house to which she retreats for an occasional break, and at which the whole royal family gathers every Christmas. Currently, Prince William, Princess Kate, and the kids have a home on the grounds, and little Prince George attends nursery school in the village. (As one of the lovely staff in the home put it, it's just so convenient as Prince William can easily fly in and out as needed.)

This palace was a very different experience from the others we've visited. It truly is a country home, filled with comfortable furniture, lots of family photos, lots of flowers and china, and a dining room with a beautiful table that appears to seat only eight people. (This would be a staff breakfast table in the others.) We were shown where the Queen likes to sit for her morning coffee, in a comfy chair in an alcove overlooking the gardens. Nearby is a very large table with a jigsaw puzzle only partially completed. It's still certainly palatial, but one can imagine actually living here! There is a beautiful pencil drawing of Queen Elizabeth, in her typical head scarf with her Corgis at her side, smiling and looking so happy. Sandringham is indeed her relaxation place.

We peeked into the little church that the royals attend when they are in residence - again, none of the sweeping grandeur of the churches in London, and, interestingly, the first church we've seen where the altar and pulpit are heavily adorned with silver. The graveyard that surrounds the church on three sides is the resting place of young princes and the royal gardener, and many of the townspeople. This setting really mirrors the very personal relationship that British citizens feel they have with the queen. At 90, Queen Elizabeth is the longest reigning monarch in the very long history of this country. Many of its citizens have been born, lived long lives, and passed away without ever knowing another head of state. Fascinating stuff for our very American group!

After a lovely lunch and a browse in the gift shop, we boarded our bus and headed for Castle Rising, only a few minutes away. What a contrast! This is the ruins of a castle constructed in 1140 A.D. Built on a very high manmade hill, it served as both palace and fortress. The walls are many feet thick and many of the rooms are intact, though the Great Hall has no floor or ceiling. There is a throne niche in the wall of the Great Hall - it's not hard to imagine the lord of the castle receiving various petitioners who entered through the grand arch after having waited in the vestibule. This was a windy, blustery day, with passing clouds and sunshine. There was a definite feeling of connection to the distant past, and we were once again reminded of how long this English country has been in existence.

After a brief peek into the very charming tea shop in the village, we were once again on our way, headed for the coastal town of Hunstanton and a look at the North Sea. For Floridians, a trip to the seacoast is nothing unusual - we are, of course, surrounded on three sides by water. This seacoast, however, is quite different. The town was filled with vacationing citizens - and not one single swimsuit did we see! The tide was at its lowest ebb, and the mudflats stretched for several hundred yards. AND it was windy, but not particularly cold. There was a Promenade, reminiscent of pre-casino Atlantic City, many fish and chips stands, ice cream vendors, bingo parlors, and the like. People strolled and lounged on the very muddy shore, sat in large cafes and drank beer and chatted. Kids ran up and down the Promenade. In short, there was a definite vacation vibe! We strolled around the town and finally decided that sitting down with a beer (a glass of wine in my case) was a great way to close out our adventure of today.

Back on the bus, an hour and a half ride, and we are home. Our little room is comfortable, and the window opens onto the alleyway that runs beside The Eagle. We can hear folks in the pub talking. Later, after all becomes quiet, we'll hear and feel the breeze, then in the early morning we'll lie in bed and listen to the mourning doves. What a peaceful place.

A final little story:  As we walked towards Sandringham Palace, we were joined by a British couple on holiday, Tony and Jane. They appeared to be about our age, and we exchanged names, and discovered that they are members of the lifelong learning group in the UK. Called U3A, which stands for University for the Third Age, this program is countrywide. Tony's name for it is Playtime for Pensioners, so very appropriate. We now have two more names for what we do to take back to the states. And I am struck by the similarity between U3A and my blog title - for we are all pretty much in our third thirty. Lovely folks, enjoying the day, strolling towards the Queen's country estate - which, in fact, belongs to her subjects.

Tomorrow, we begin our classes, then punting on the Cam and formal tea in the afternoon in the Bursar's Garden. We are crossing our fingers that the fine weather returns. Now - off to bed!