Punting on the River Cam

Advantages: Relaxing, fun, chance to the 'Backs'
Disadvantages: If you punt yourself you may fall in!

...Before being accepted to the summer school at Cambridge I had no idea what Punting was. When I saw it was on the timetable for one of the sessions during the week I decided I should find out! A punt is a square-ended boat, which has a flat bottom and is usually propelled using a long pole. Punts were introduced to provide stable craft, which could be used in areas of water too shallow for rowing conventional craft. Punting has now become one of the most popular ways to see the famous bridges and colleges along the River Cam. There are two routes that you can take along the river in a punt. One of these is the Upper River, towards Granchester (a small village) and the other is along the Middle River, which passes the famous college Backs. We took the latter of these routes and I thoroughly enjoyed it! ~ A little bit...

bluejules 01.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Punting, Cambridge

The Mystery of Punt e Mes

Advantages: Subtle delicious bitter-sweet flavour
Disadvantages: Hard to find - and has it been changed recently?

...It wouldn't surprise me if you'd never heard of Punt e Mes. Even most wine merchants didn't seem to have heard of it, when I looked on the net and even made a few calls to investigate prices and availability. Certainly very few stock it. It was a bit of an oddity when I first tried it thirty or forty years ago, but it has become only less well known and harder to find ever since. Punt e Mes can still be found, but probably not by simply looking on the shelves of your local supermarket or off-licence. This is a pity, because it is a drink with a most distinctive - and to my taste quite delicious - flavour. * What is it? * Punt e Mes is an aperitif or rather, since it is Italian rather than French, I suppose I should say aperitivo. It's intended to be drunk as a refresher before a meal, or just as a refresher; the meal...

torr 15.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Punt e Mes Vermouth

Punting in Cambridge - brief summary!

Advantages: Good fun, beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: Possibilities of falling in if punting yourself!

...Punting is one of the most traditional things to do on a summers day in Cambridge. When the weather is good, it can often get quite busy, but that only adds to the excitement (especially if doing the punting yourself!). Punts can be hired in several locations around the city; you can either go through the more country route from Grantchester (where there are fantastic outdoor tea rooms in an orchard), or along the 'Backs' of Cambridge, past the likes of Kings College. Either offers a very scenic view! Especially in summer, there are often a number of people trying to entice you to their punts. There are several different companies, including ones such as Scudamores. Punts range in sizes and prices; you can either punt yourself, or hire a 'chauffeured' punt, whilst your guide gives you a history of the beautiful scenery and buildings...

rd89 07.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Punting, Cambridge

Go Punt

Advantages: Either relaxing or interesting depending on your mood
Disadvantages: A bit expensive

...Far and away the best thing to do in Cambridge is to punt down the river on a warm sunny day. Punts cost from about eight pounds an hour from Scudamores Boat Yard. To find them just stand on the Silver Street bridge and look out and you can?t miss them. You can also hire rowing boats if you prefer. There are two possible routes depending on what you?re looking for. The first route is the shorter and best suited for tourists who want to see a bit more of the traditional Cambridge sights. It takes you down the backs of the colleges so you can appreciate how beautiful and old they really are. This stretch of the river does tend to get rather crowded at times, though, especially on weekends. You can also take a guided punt tour with your own personal gondolier, complete with straw boater and waistcoat, for about double the price...

Rowan 02.10.2001 · Read review
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Review of Punting, Cambridge

Punt and Dennis

Advantages: Nice, light hearted BBC1 comedy
Disadvantages: Now deleted, but might still be found in the bargain bin

...As the two from The Mary Whitehouse Experience that didn't go on to sell out Wembley arena, or get comedy rechristened 'the new rock and roll', Punt and Dennis have subsequently appeared to some as being the less talented half of the original group. Indeed, their brand of comedy is less controversial, and therefore less sexy than the kind of material produced by Baddiel and Newman. However, that is not to say that their comedy is anything to be sniffed at. This video, featuring the highlights of their 1994 BBC1 solo series, 'The Imaginatively Titled Punt And Dennis Show', reveals some gems of comedy moments. Restricted somewhat by their pre-watershed time slot (the show was broadcast at 8.30pm), they overcome this problem with some fantastic new swear words, and character comedy that uncovers their true comic skill...

Sharon.C 14.05.2001 (13.05.2001) · Read review
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Review of Imaginatively Titled Punt & Dennis Show, The

Sit back, relax and let somebody else do the work!

Advantages: Great way to see 'the backs' - very picturesque
Disadvantages: A bit chilly in winter

...You can't go to Cambridge and not go punting! This is a fabulous experience and a definite must do. My partner and I visited Cambridge a couple of weekends ago (beginning of March) and I was told during winter there is no punting. Luckily my informant was wrong (although I'm not sure if they are open Dec/Jan). For those of you who aren't quite sure what this is there are several companies offering either chauffeured punts or self guided punts. The punt is the actual raft like boat you travel down the river on, somebody stands at the back (either the guide or yourself) and pushes the punt along using a long poll that touches the river bed. I'm told this is hard work and is more difficult than it looks, which I believe! We took a Chauffeured punt and saw many a punt stranded in awkward positions. If you are up for a bit...

ang_e11 08.03.2006 · Read review
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Review of Punting, Cambridge

The Cambridge Wet Pole Dancing Club.

Advantages: bliss on a summer day
Disadvantages: damp pole, damper water if you fall in

...It is a little known fact that in the summertime, fit, attractive Cambridge students of both sexes perform athletic routines with the pole for the benefit of tourists and to put a few quid in their pockets. I am talking, of course, about punting. Update -- (always sensitive to my customers) A punt is a small flat boat, quite long, which is used on shallow rivers and driven by pushing a long pole into the riverbed. It is a slow but leisurely way to travel and extremely popular with students in Cambridge and Oxford. It has been used for many years, though, as a way of navigating marshlands and wetlands. As such, it is one of the few truly traditional and ancient forms of self-propelled transport still in use today. A typical punt will take six to eight people in comfort with their fishing nets and goods for market, or these days...

Saturn 01.11.2001 (19.11.2001) · Read review
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Review of Punting, Cambridge

Punting down the Cam is excellent

Advantages: Lots of history, quaint streets, chocolatiers, antique bookstores, good pubs
Disadvantages: Your feet will kill you at the end of the day!

...life ...visit Cambridge in the Spring and Summer time. Take yourself down to one of the many bridges crossing the River Cam and indulge in a punting trip down the river. It is relaxing and your guides will give you a good lesson in the history of the various bridges and universities along the way. I must admit, my playfulness was ever present on our trip some 16 years ago. After a few shoves of his pole, our punt operator was in stitches when I berated him for not singing the Cornetto song to me, and in response to my assertation that I had never ... (oops, can't say it) in a punt, he promptly said he could let us go by ourselves and he'd hit the pub for an hour! Yes, I must admit, that was a naughty thing for me to say. We were all laughing though and had a great time. The city abounds with museums and art galleries to satisfy...

poet831 20.11.2001 · Read review
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Review of Cambridge (England)

you stupid punt

Advantages: a great car
Disadvantages: no leg room

......

psmithplaya 21.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Fiat Punto 1.2 

Zonta the Shunter

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Tag king

...Lets all thank Ricardo for closing the drivers championship right back up again. After all if he had not punted Schummi into the gravel at A1 ring, we might be witnessing a Scumacher demonstration of domination. Its good to see poor drivers can still make it in formula 1. He should have bumpers on his car the way he drives. He has not driven well since he had that damaged ankle in Brazil last year when he (suprise, suprise) fell off the course. He should be driving in Formula 3 or British touring cars cos they are always tagging each other....

andycharger 11.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Ricardo Zonta