The awe and wonder of Durham!

Possibly one of the most special experiences of my Chrismas holiday was visiting Durham for the first time ever.  This famous University city has the most amazing cathedral and when J, (CBC's mum) found out I'd never seen it, she promised we should pay a visit at Christmas, so on the 22nd of December, it was our plan to attend the carol service there.

In the morning, we went for lunch at Brockbushes garden centre (scene of the famous maize maze post from the summer).  We spent rather a long time there, so CBC and I went outside to play with a tractor.  Well CBC did- I was the paparazzi!

One of my favourite (a little geeky I know) car pastimes is cloud-gazing.   I love identifying familiar objects and characters in clouds.  And since reading the Cloud collector's handbook, looking for unusual ones!

This fleet of airship like clouds were my companion all the way along the rollercoaster that is the A68

They appeared to have babies after a while!
Spookily, anticipating parking issues in Durham, we found somewhere instantly and sojourned up to the cathedral.  We crossed the river, going past the controversially concrete-looking Durham university Student Union and up steep cobbled streets..

... to catch our first view of the cathedral.   To be honest, it doesn't look out of the ordinary from any other cathedral on the outside.  But on the inside it is breath-taking.  I almost cried (I confess I did she a tear or two, but tried to hide as I did it)  I was so overwhelmed by the feeling of beauty, of it being a sacred place of the standing on holy ground.   I have sung in quite a few cathedrals because of a choir I used to sing with- we used to cover for cathedral choirs when they were away sometimes and so got to see parts of the cathedral that the general public don't get to, but by far, this is the one I have been most awed and affected by. 

Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos inside but please please please go and look at the cathedral website, where you can see some.  You will not get the feeling I got of being in that holy place but it is beautiful!  We saw the Marks and Spencer stained glass window (paid for by M&S I believe) and were treated to seeing and hearing the choir rehearsing for the service. 
 We heard different choir boys being tried out for the 1st verse solo for 'Once in royal David's city'!

J, who went to University in Durham, shared some of her knowledge and reminiscences with us.  I loved seeing where she'd lived.  Look at these lovely Georgian looking buildings.

Steep cobbled streets made me feel sorry for the limping old man I saw. 

Durham castle, which we didn't get to see inside.

More views of the cathedral which is Norman- so it is at least 800 years old...

and more...

Here's the square.  And to our left, Durham university music department building!

The sanctuary knocker. If anyone in Norman times (I'm a little hazy on the dates/era) who was wanted by the law, they could seek sanctuary in this cathedral and they could not be touched by the authorities and would be given free passage to the nearest port. If they even just managed to reach the sanctuary knocker and touch it, they would be safe.

 As it got dark, we went and ate cake!  Bless J, she saved us seats whilst we went to do some Christmas shopping.   Looking around, I discovered that this is the resting place of the venerable Bede- well known monk, and considered one of the Great historians.  He strongly believed in unbiased truth in history. 

The quadrangle...

We managed to find one or two items including copious walking socks!
That's me. In a hat. It felt so festive and romantic being in that paved, old-stoned square! Leaving J, CBC's Mum to guard our bags and save places, we went to hastily buy some last minute Christmas presents (and buy some sneaky chips!) I loved the winding streets!

The carol service was magical.  It was so wonderful to be there.  I loved the fact that the choir had boys and girls mixed up.  There's usually just a boys choir and the girls sing for other services.  The singing was wonderful, and I loved the readings and the message of the sermon.

 
As we departed the cathedral at night (9pm), I was so glad we had made the journey.  It was a cheerful, yet hungry journey back to Haltwhistle.  We had great fun playing, "Christmas Carol 1 note at a time), singing Christmas carols 1 note each going round in a circle.  You can imagine how Ding dong merrily on high sounded!   We managed to stave our hunger with a snickers bar that WOMOTM thoughtfully gave me in the morning and when we had returned home, we were most appreciative of the salmon dinner that WOMOTM and Miss Penguin had cooked for us!

Have you ever visited Durham.  Can you try and articulate the beauty and awe of Durham cathedral? 
Have I persuaded you to visit if you haven't?