Norwich, East Anglia We spent the night in Norwich and spent the day wandering through what claims to be the most complete medieval city in the United Kingdom. Once the center of the wool trade, it includes cobbled streets, ancient buildings, half-timbered houses, many medieval lanes, and the winding River Wensum that flows through the city center. Those make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in England.
The charm of this city was further enhanced by the glorious spring weather we have been experiencing. It would be nice to think that perhaps we are bringing it with us, but if it rains soon, we take absolutely no responsibility.
Drool over the sunny corners and the medieval jewels of the lovely town center.
And then there is the cathedral, another great engineering achievement of the Middle Ages. It’s a Romanesque masterpiece, topped by a 315-foot spire. The cloister is the largest in Europe, once the home of over 250 Benedictine monks. Once again, we gaped at an incredible fan-vaulted masterpiece of this lovely church, still the center of its community.
We were very leisurely in our approach to Norwich, but it was the perfect day for strolling and not for rushing from one famous site to the next. But when asked, we will definitely say that Norwich is worth the trip!
Don’s Food Corner
There are a few things we’ve learned when ordering food in various parts of the world: If you are in India, don’t order a Philly Cheese Steak. When in Alabama, don’t order New England Clam Chowder. When in Pierre, South Dakota, don’t order lox and cream cheese on a bagel. When in New Mexico (or Paris), don’t order Maryland Crab Cakes. When in Italy, don’t order steak and ale pie.
And when you are in Norwich, England, don’t order Italian food. We did. There was an Italian restaurant handy when we were ready to eat. There’s no need to dwell on the Norwichian take on Italian food (and maybe it’s better at another Norwich Italian eatery, but somehow I doubt it) except to say that we tasted a pizza and something they called ravioli. Well, they tried.
Thus, a lesson learned repeatedly in many countries: stick to the food of the indigenous people and you’ll be better off. (An exception is the pizza at Fire and Ice in Kathmandu, Nepal, which rivals anything you can get in Naples or anywhere else.)
You mean stick to curry? LOL!