The International group at Chichester University teamed up with Chichester College and sent us all up to Oxford for the low low price of fifteen pounds a head. Those of us on the University campus had to walk over to the College campus to catch the busses, which wasn't bad. I was the only one who thought to write down directions to the campus though so everyone was at the mercy of my directions. I actually had great directions and got us there in good time but the others apparently had no faith and questioned whether we were going the right way or not about fifty times. Oh well, next time they can figure out where we're going.
The bus ride up was nice, but some parts of it felt like driving in the lower mainland of B.C. due to the leafy green trees and the big box stores just off a highway. I guess that's a world standard look. I also saw a Best Western hotel, which weirded me out. For some reason I thought that was a North American thing and not a place you'd find worldwide. Anyway, we got to Oxford just the rain started. I was an idiot and forgot to wear my wellies so I resigned myself to a day of wet feet. The busses don't actually drop you IN Oxford. There's a bus zone just on the outside of the city and you get to walk in. Mind you, it's about a five minute walk and you're in the heart of the city so it's not that bad.
The first place we stopped at was the Christ Church. Confusingly enough this houses both the famous Christ Church Cathedral and the University of Oxford. The Grand Hall where the students eat was also used as a location shot for the first Harry Potter movie. Yes, I went in.
Going up the stairs!
The doors are less magnificent than I remember them
in the film.
I felt underdressed in here.
It's surprisingly small in here. You'd bump elbows
eating at those tables.
The Church grounds themselves were huge. Lots of open green space that, had it not been for the rain and the guards telling you where you could walk, you'd want to stretch out on.
It's November. That's too green for November.
In the Cathedral part of the church there are, of course, lots of tombs and religious artifacts you'd find in any church. I hunted around and found the oldest readable burial notice I could. Yes, that's a bit morbid but I find it's a great way of seeing just how long the structures have been standing. It sort of makes time feel a lot bigger, and the world a lot smaller.
After leaving the Christ Church, I headed off to discover the rest of Oxford with the french international girls Paola and Valentine. We headed for the Bodleian Library. It was opened in 1602 and has a library of about 2,000 books. Sadly as entering almost anywhere in Oxford has a charge of between 5 and 7 pounds we didn't go on the tour. We DID go into the gift shop where I found several cute (yet expensive) bits and bobs. I didn't buy anything but Paola did, though for the life of me I can't remember what.
Leaving the library we headed for Radcliffe Square. Theres a gorgeous lookout point at the very top where you can see the majority of Oxford. We shelled out to go up and get some pictures.
This staircase was so squishy. It got worse when I
had to stand in a small hole in the wall while
people were coming down the stairs.
This is now a reading room for the Bodleian Library.
Seriously, grass should not be that green in November.
Thanks Paola for this picture!
The streets of Oxford are really cute!!
Just look at that cute street!
Right: Paola, Left: Valentine. Belles filles françaises.
This gargoyle kept dripping on my head while I was
taking pictures. Not cool.
After making our way back down the steep staircase of doom we went in search of food. Along the way we passed the Oxford version of the Bridge of Sighs. The real one is in Venice, so named because criminals on death row would walk across it and see their last view of Venice before dying. They're not exactly the same in looks but I feel like I've collected a set because I've been across the one in Italy as well.
Just past this lovely piece of stonework is a small winding alleyway that leads you to a famous tavern that students of Oxford have gone to for years. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
In case that is hard to read it says,
The Famous Turf Tavern: An Education in Intoxication
They weren't kidding about the intoxication part.
Sadly this tavern was too crowded for us to eat at, as were the next several we tried. We ended up just getting a panini from Starbucks and continuing on with our walking.
So that's about all I have as far as the Oxford trip goes! It was loads of fun to just wander through the city. You can take walking tours but I think the best way of seeing a place is just getting lost.
The rest of my week has been boring by comparison. I'm still at Springfield, and the semester is drawing to a close. Today was my last class for one of my English courses, as the rest of the time will be used for one on one sessions with the seminar tutor if we need it. I'm working my way through essays and final projects, though I'm not going as fast as I would like. I'll be picking up the pace this week.
As a final note, I'm going to see David Tennant in Richard II tonight with my friend Stacy and I'm very excited.
Take care guys!
I think Oxford suits you!
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