Close by at Cambridge

Today I woke up and decided to go to the Fitzwilliam Museum which is a stones throw away, I can practically see it from my window. Despite the fact that it is a small museum that belongs to the university they have a lot of interesting pieces. I normally dislike going to art galleries, not enough to read and no historical context, but this museum kept me entertained. I was excited to see not just local British artists but also works by Rodin, Monet, Degas, Seurat, and so many more. I think my favourite painting was 'Girl With a Sunshade' by Jules Bastien-Lepage. There were a lot of very loud children there which I didn't love. I do plan to go back again before I leave.
I also went to the first of several plenary lectures here. I got to hear Professor Stefan Halper speak on the upcoming American Presidential election. It is very interesting to hear the opinion of a man who has worked on past American presidential campaigns. Overall there was a sense of the ominous unknown when discussing the election. There were also connections drawn between the recent Brexit vote and the upcoming election. Nobody seems to have anything overwhelming positive to say about the election and I think that shaped the view of everyone who attended the lecture. There is truly a sense of I hope the lesser evil wins.
After the lecture there was a reception in the lobby, some of the people I was with engaged the Professor in a discussion. I myself, have used the opportunity afforded to me by being thousands of miles away to avoid American politics and news, so I just stood there with my drink trying to look like I cared and understood. Imagine my surprise when he turns to me and compliments my dress (I wasn't wearing a dress) and said it looked very Irish. While I am very proudly Irish, I happened to be wearing French clothes which amused myself and my companions, not that I told the professor that of course.

This is the front of the Fitzwilliam Museum which nearly lines up with the start of the street that I live on. It is celebrating its bicentennial this year. That makes it pretty young in this town. It just so happens to be next to Peterhouse and Pembroke, the oldest and third oldest colleges in Cambridge. Even the Mount is older than this museum!