Went and visited Ely, once again. I like the place. You can keep Newmarket, and Cambridge is a dead-loss – full of buses, cyclists and hypodermic needles.
Ely has a very impressive Cathedral, a regular street market on a Saturday, and is popular with people from a lot of different places. It rivals Doncaster in its ability to accept all manner of people, from all kinds of persuasions, without ever looking askance at the bizarre and the contrary.
I am not a fan of Morris Dancers, but they were all up in Ely last Saturday, performing their routines all over the town. Quite enjoyable. No-one found cause to mutter about one group who were dressed up in Black-a-moor outfits. These days, ‘blacking-up’ is frowned upon by the raging forces of ‘equality and anti-racism’, but the Morris traditions pre-date all the modern trendy prejudices. If anyone was offended, I never noticed it.
The Street Café comes highly recommended. Plain food, lots of variety, swift service and clean tables. That suits me. We sat there, eating happily. Across the street, we could see a shop that was originally founded in 1787. That must surely amaze the visiting Americans, whose nation is only 11 years older.
Car parking can be a bit difficult (popular place!) but it is free. Well worth a visit.