Urban re-entry

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Gradually expanding my automotive comfort zone, on Sunday I puttered over to the small town of Wymondham (“Wind’um”) and poked around in the early hours (great light, scant traffic.)

And the next day, it took me two circuits of only three of the four freeway interchange roundabouts to reach the Thickthorn Park and Ride to take a bus into the vaunted Norwich, capital of Norfolk County (and once capital of England!) Locals take the bus because parking is such a trial (just as I do in Portland). It costs about $5 “return” (round trip), which is what one would pay to park, and the ride is much more pleasant.

Happy to say, Norwich does not disappoint! It’s a great little city (pop. 250K) with a rich past; a market town that became a cathedral city a thousand years ago. It mixes medieval and modern in a very pleasant and sophisticated way: An immense glass and steel shopping center stands comfortably amidst cobbled-stone guildhalls and churches complete with ancient cemeteries.

With its large and long pedestrian zone in the historic core, and seemingly endless crooked little streets spidering off on every direction, it appears I’ve got days and weeks of fun exploration ahead.... Too bad I was over-enthusiastic on my first amble, and pushed my knees to their limits. Between that and an annoying head cold, I had to take quiet day: painting, reading, and planning to attend the Bawburgh Historical Society meeting at the Village Hall.

I hope you enjoy these first photos of my more “urban” explorations. (You’ll notice rabbit sculptures everywhere - that’s part of the Norfolk Sculpture Trail - https://www.gogohares.co.uk/hares)

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Photos

Wymondham
Central market square

Wymondham
Morning light on “high street”

Wymondham
“High” street is the main street in any town

Wymondham Abbey
Two unsteepled towers

Norwich
Farmers market in pedestrian zone

Norwich Guild Hall
Features a nice cafe inside

Norwich
One rabbit

Norwich
Another.

Norwich Cathedral
Worship here has been going on 1000 years.

Norwich Cathedral
Nave

Norwich
Looks like a tough winter ahead...

Lunch at Britons Arms
Lovely garden, delicious lunch,

Lunch at Britons Arms
Popovers filled with Cromer crab salad.

Norwich River Wensum
Note rabbit on the bridge...

Comments

[Shirley Mason]

Love it!
I love your blogs and pictures. It's nice to live vicariously through you. I'm so glad you are having such a great trip.

[Diane Borcyckowski]

This looks like a wonderful journey through rabbits and cathedrals. What's up with their thing for rabbits? Sure hope your knees are recovered. I'm sure your cold is a thing of the past by now. Thanks so much for sharing this travel log with us. I admire your willingness to do it alone and with sore knees. Hopefully the latter will give in and give up.

[Kier]

Rabbits Everywhere??? Why???
What a fun little town! First observation is what is the significance of the abundance of bunnies? Second, I would love to share that lunch at Britons Arms....OMG crab salad stuffed popovers...be still my heart! Glad you are conquering the roads and venturing out. Hope your head cold is subsiding and letting you out for more adventures. Love following your story.

[BlueHwyGal]

Bunnies
As mentioned at the very end of my “Urban Re-Entry” post, the bunnies are part of the Norfolk Sculpture Trail... ?

[Lori]

Hello
I really am enjoying your updates. You certainly have picked a wonderful place to spend 2 months. Maybe I might do something like that but instead perhaps go to Germany. Love and hugs, Lorraine ♥️