Having gone to Oxford College of Emory University for undergraduate studies, I've wanted to go to the real Oxford for a long time. Finally, I was on my way.
The fun first part of every train journey is standing in the main hall
staring at the big board waiting to find out your train's platform.
First thing I went to see was the Oxford Castle. Yeah, I didn't know
there was a castle in Oxford, either! It was really interesting,
though. It was a former prison for most of its life
(sort of like the Tower of London). In fact, it only shut down as a prison
in the mid 90s!
A view of the buildings below from one of the castle towers
Looking towards Oxford
Moi
Part of the old prison ward
One of the cells in the prison. It's been set up as it would have been
for a "priviledged" prisoner. These were wealthy folks who actually
paid "rent" for their cells. In fact, even the lowest prisoners paid
room and board of some sort!
My profile shots! Heh. I look quite smug about being in prison!
The courtyard of one of the colleges
Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant! It was goooooooood!
Labelled as the oldest building in Oxford
Façade of Merton college. Oxford University is made up of several
colleges spread throughout the city. They are somewhat independent
among themselves, but graduates still sit exams according to Oxford's
schedule and receive degrees from Oxford University itself.
Lawn of Merton College, the oldest of the Oxford colleges.
This dolphin symbol was all over most of the buildings. This one is on the
pulpit in the church on campus. It represents the man who basically
owned the college and gave a lot of money to have it built! He wanted to
make sure he wasn't forgotten.
The college library which dates back about 700 years. I took a tour
with a graduate student volunteer (I was the only one who
came along so it was a private tour!). That is the only way to gain entrance
to the library. It was amazing! The smell of the books was intoxicating
(yes, I'm a complete nerd!!)
Some of the books available-
Histoire de France
Letter from Queen Elizabeth I. Yep. The
real Queen Elizabeth (think
beginning of 1600s!!!)
The Radcliffe Camera. It's not open to visit, but is
an interesting building to see nonetheless.
The Bridge of Sighs- it's meant to be a copy of the one in Venice.
This is the pub I ended up at while waiting for my train. It
dates back to the mid 1600s.
Here's the cool interior. The four guys on the left there are all opthomologists
who were in town for a convention. They skipped the last session to come to the
pub. We had a good time chatting! Got some good recommendations of places to
visit next time I come to the UK, too (namely York).
Here I am sitting under the fish and chips sign
