Oxford
Categories: holidays, ship-of-fools
Date: 18 December 2007 00:51:28
[By the way, I have not been putting up photos of the 'strange internet people' :) I met unless I know I have their express permission. If you know I took a photo of you and you don't mind being on Flickr and the Wibsite for all to see, drop me a note and I will add the photo in.]
Photos here of my very quick trip to Oxford on a Friday for lunch, before continuing up to Manchester for the weekend. Oxford is truly a very picturesque city and very lovely to stroll through: though quite a busy one, even in November, with all the tourists. I imagine they come, as I did, at all times of the year.
From the railway station I wandered over a canal and made my way to Christ Church College -- making a quick stop at Debenhams as they had forgotten to take the security tag [that warned it would spill paint everywhere if forceable removed] off the coat I bought at Canterbury the day before: I am surprised it didn't go off when I exited the shop.
Christ Church College is an amazing complex of buildings. Perhaps there are more beautiful colleges, I do not know, but Christ Church is well-known, and I did want to see the college and chapel. [I will have to head to Cambridge next time to see King's College, where the Carols and Nine Lessons service takes place.] The College Chapel is a beautiful place of worship: I would love to attend a service there one day. The college is also very beautiful, and has a very peaceful feel about it. Not sure what it may be like in the midst of a semester with students running everywhere! The Great Hall (right) took my breath away -- imagine eating there each day!
After the college I visited the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, and climbed the tower for some great views of the city. The church itself is also a lovely worship space. From there it was more walking and looking, including a quick look outside the Bodleian Library.
After that it was a lovely lunch at the charming Turf Taven, hidden away just off a main street. It was great to meet everyone, and we truly did have a very enjoyable, and amusing, lunch.