Last day with Matt and now in Oxford
Oct. 18th, 2008 04:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thrihyrneA quick note to say: it's quite magical to sit and have a sandwich, crisps and milk whilst sitting on the banks of the Isis (the part of the Thames that runs through Oxford), watching uni students punt down the water.
We cleaned up and went to Cadbury World, not taking the tour (which was £13), but definitely going to the shop where I bought a fair amount of chocolate that I can't get in the states. Then we went back to her house and figured out how to get to the Sarehole Mill, an area where Tolkien spent a lot of his time as a youth and is, in all likelihood, the inspiration for Hobbiton. Harry and Ron went with us again, more education for them. Hermione would be so proud. ;) I got a couple of pictures of Matt posing the two, as well as taking some of the four of us with my camera, just sticking out my arm. It was really funny, and Matt's pictures turned out well. It'll be great fun once she posts them. I took great pride in being Chief Navagator again. We had a low-key evening at home, and then the next morning I got up kindof early; I never do sleep as well the night before I'm traveling. I went with Matt to drop off her daughters at school for the last time, then bought a few postcards, seeing as how I will have spent the majority of my U.K. trip in Birmingham, somewhat to my surprise. She graciously took me to the coach station and dropped me off. After hugs and many, many thanks on my part, I got on the coach to Oxford. I'd stayed an extra day with her because I was enjoying myself so much, and I can't thank her enough for opening her house to me.
The coach ride to Oxford was surprisingly fast and very quiet; there were only 14 of us on the coach at all. This is my last stop, and my first time on this trip to be solo, which feels sortof strange after being with friends who've felt like family despite not having met either Callum or Matt in person until this trip. I'd researched the local bus route to my guesthouse, and that all went without a hitch. The guesthouse does smell a bit funny, and the owner is both flighty and odd, but the price is right and it's very close to the city centre. It's about a 5 minute walk on Iffley street into town— you're all welcome to google where I am. :) I dropped off my stuff as I got there around 2 o'clock, and headed into town. I'd printed out a map of Oxford's city centre, but also went to the information centre and got another copy. I went into St. Mary the Virgin, which has a tower with 127 stairs, and after paying £3, went up to see the views since, yet again, I was gifted with a sunny day. The weather has truly been incredible. It's colder now, but this entire trip I've not had any rain to deal with during the day. The views were gorgeous and I took a lot of pictures up there. I do definitely feel that I'm in a tourist town; I've been hearing a lot of French, which I studied, and some Russian and loads of other languages. Also some American, which I don't like hearing, because it reminds me that I have to go back on Monday. Basically I just wandered around, realizing just how much is closed off to the public, which is rather a bummer. You can't get into any of the colleges, really, which is disappointing. I think I knew that most would be closed, but the reality has been rather a bummer. That said, I'm still having a good time walking around and seeing things. Being the non-foodie that I am, I simply went to Sainsbury's in one of the large shopping centres and bought a sandwich and crisps for dinner, which I ate in my room after acknowledging that my feet ached and I was tired.
Today I got up and had the bagel I'd packed from yesterday as I slept through breakfast. Thankfully, despite being quite strange, the guesthouse owner did have an alarm clock I can borrow as there wasn't one in the room, I don't know how to set my cell phone, and my watch isn't digital. Equally strangely, I couldn't change the hour on it from 4 o'clock when setting the time, which was an hour earlier than the real time, so it's an hour behind. Still, it means that I won't miss my coach Monday morning to take me to Heathrow, which is a relief. I headed into town again, having made a list of places to visit yesterday, primarily museums and the Bodleian Library. I didn't pay to get a tour of the Bodleian, so I didn't see much, and I was thinking I'd go ahead and pay up and go tomorrow, only to see that they're closed on Sundays. :( Oh well. I went to the Museum of the History of Science which had a huge exhibition on astrolabes and the like, including ones from Persia. It was fascinating, if overwhelming at seeing the myriad versions over time. Back at the Bodleian, they did have a free exhibition on donations to the library, including displays with books dating back to the 1200s. It was unbelievable, seeing such old tomes from around the world.
I visited Sainsbury's again for another sandwich, crisps and milk and wandered along the Thames for a little bit before heading back to the Christ Church meadow where I ate my lunch. I spent a little time just sitting outside on a bench on the Magdalen Bridge, reading The Hienama that Storm had given to me and signed, to rest my feet but still be outside, then took a breather back at my guesthouse. I decided to come back out as I'm still on holiday, and wandered around some new streets, finding myself in a covered market near the Clarendon Shopping Centre. I was looking for the public toilets there (I've been to all of them but one in Oxford now!) and decided to window shop a bit. I'd been thinking I'd get an Oxford University t-shirt, but I found a citrine and peridot ring instead for £21, which is about what a t-shirt would cost. This seems to be my theme of trips; my gift to myself during my last trip to Scotland was a set of three rings. And a ring is much better than a shirt. ;) In my amblings, I did notice that the Merton College chapel is having a candlelight eucharist tomorrow at 5:45, and it was on a placard out on the pavement, so I assume it's open to the public. I'm planning to go to that tomorrow as something local and unique. The English ballet is here as well, dancing Sleeping Beauty, but I think I'll just take a load off and read and write this evening. I'd forgotton how tiring it is to be walking and on one's feet all day! I did manage to find the Eagle and Child pub where Tolkien and the Inklings hung out and asked a young English couple to take a picture of me in front of it. They looked a bit wary as I approached until I explained that I was traveling alone and wanted some proof that I'd been there, and then they were happy to help. So I do have one picture of me here in Oxford, in front of the place where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and others sat around and talked about their fic and drank ale.
The plan for tomorrow as I have in my mind currently is to get up in time to have the English breakfast offered at the guesthouse and then go out Iffley road to some locks (?) that are there. A kindly woman on the local bus I took from the coach station yesterday told me about them and suggested them as an option "when you get tired of Oxford." I don't really know where they are, but I suspect if I simply walk down the road, I'll find them. I'm going to treat myself to eating out one meal tomorrow, at a location yet unknown, and also go to the Museum of Oxford which is open from noon to five, and then the evensong. Then, sadly, my England trip will be over; I'm taking the coach to Heathrow to arrive by 10 o'clock for my one o'clock flight. I still have a couple of touristy things I'd like to buy, like a fridge magnet and if I can find a car decal with either the English or Scottish flag, that'd be great. My other Scotland sticker finally got so grotty I scraped it off. I'm at an internet cafe right now, one I'd scoped out my first trip into town. The price isn't bad, £1 for 45 minutes, so I'll probably come back by again tomorrow.
For all those who've been along with me via my travelogues, I hope you've been enjoying!! ♥
We cleaned up and went to Cadbury World, not taking the tour (which was £13), but definitely going to the shop where I bought a fair amount of chocolate that I can't get in the states. Then we went back to her house and figured out how to get to the Sarehole Mill, an area where Tolkien spent a lot of his time as a youth and is, in all likelihood, the inspiration for Hobbiton. Harry and Ron went with us again, more education for them. Hermione would be so proud. ;) I got a couple of pictures of Matt posing the two, as well as taking some of the four of us with my camera, just sticking out my arm. It was really funny, and Matt's pictures turned out well. It'll be great fun once she posts them. I took great pride in being Chief Navagator again. We had a low-key evening at home, and then the next morning I got up kindof early; I never do sleep as well the night before I'm traveling. I went with Matt to drop off her daughters at school for the last time, then bought a few postcards, seeing as how I will have spent the majority of my U.K. trip in Birmingham, somewhat to my surprise. She graciously took me to the coach station and dropped me off. After hugs and many, many thanks on my part, I got on the coach to Oxford. I'd stayed an extra day with her because I was enjoying myself so much, and I can't thank her enough for opening her house to me.
The coach ride to Oxford was surprisingly fast and very quiet; there were only 14 of us on the coach at all. This is my last stop, and my first time on this trip to be solo, which feels sortof strange after being with friends who've felt like family despite not having met either Callum or Matt in person until this trip. I'd researched the local bus route to my guesthouse, and that all went without a hitch. The guesthouse does smell a bit funny, and the owner is both flighty and odd, but the price is right and it's very close to the city centre. It's about a 5 minute walk on Iffley street into town— you're all welcome to google where I am. :) I dropped off my stuff as I got there around 2 o'clock, and headed into town. I'd printed out a map of Oxford's city centre, but also went to the information centre and got another copy. I went into St. Mary the Virgin, which has a tower with 127 stairs, and after paying £3, went up to see the views since, yet again, I was gifted with a sunny day. The weather has truly been incredible. It's colder now, but this entire trip I've not had any rain to deal with during the day. The views were gorgeous and I took a lot of pictures up there. I do definitely feel that I'm in a tourist town; I've been hearing a lot of French, which I studied, and some Russian and loads of other languages. Also some American, which I don't like hearing, because it reminds me that I have to go back on Monday. Basically I just wandered around, realizing just how much is closed off to the public, which is rather a bummer. You can't get into any of the colleges, really, which is disappointing. I think I knew that most would be closed, but the reality has been rather a bummer. That said, I'm still having a good time walking around and seeing things. Being the non-foodie that I am, I simply went to Sainsbury's in one of the large shopping centres and bought a sandwich and crisps for dinner, which I ate in my room after acknowledging that my feet ached and I was tired.
Today I got up and had the bagel I'd packed from yesterday as I slept through breakfast. Thankfully, despite being quite strange, the guesthouse owner did have an alarm clock I can borrow as there wasn't one in the room, I don't know how to set my cell phone, and my watch isn't digital. Equally strangely, I couldn't change the hour on it from 4 o'clock when setting the time, which was an hour earlier than the real time, so it's an hour behind. Still, it means that I won't miss my coach Monday morning to take me to Heathrow, which is a relief. I headed into town again, having made a list of places to visit yesterday, primarily museums and the Bodleian Library. I didn't pay to get a tour of the Bodleian, so I didn't see much, and I was thinking I'd go ahead and pay up and go tomorrow, only to see that they're closed on Sundays. :( Oh well. I went to the Museum of the History of Science which had a huge exhibition on astrolabes and the like, including ones from Persia. It was fascinating, if overwhelming at seeing the myriad versions over time. Back at the Bodleian, they did have a free exhibition on donations to the library, including displays with books dating back to the 1200s. It was unbelievable, seeing such old tomes from around the world.
I visited Sainsbury's again for another sandwich, crisps and milk and wandered along the Thames for a little bit before heading back to the Christ Church meadow where I ate my lunch. I spent a little time just sitting outside on a bench on the Magdalen Bridge, reading The Hienama that Storm had given to me and signed, to rest my feet but still be outside, then took a breather back at my guesthouse. I decided to come back out as I'm still on holiday, and wandered around some new streets, finding myself in a covered market near the Clarendon Shopping Centre. I was looking for the public toilets there (I've been to all of them but one in Oxford now!) and decided to window shop a bit. I'd been thinking I'd get an Oxford University t-shirt, but I found a citrine and peridot ring instead for £21, which is about what a t-shirt would cost. This seems to be my theme of trips; my gift to myself during my last trip to Scotland was a set of three rings. And a ring is much better than a shirt. ;) In my amblings, I did notice that the Merton College chapel is having a candlelight eucharist tomorrow at 5:45, and it was on a placard out on the pavement, so I assume it's open to the public. I'm planning to go to that tomorrow as something local and unique. The English ballet is here as well, dancing Sleeping Beauty, but I think I'll just take a load off and read and write this evening. I'd forgotton how tiring it is to be walking and on one's feet all day! I did manage to find the Eagle and Child pub where Tolkien and the Inklings hung out and asked a young English couple to take a picture of me in front of it. They looked a bit wary as I approached until I explained that I was traveling alone and wanted some proof that I'd been there, and then they were happy to help. So I do have one picture of me here in Oxford, in front of the place where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and others sat around and talked about their fic and drank ale.
The plan for tomorrow as I have in my mind currently is to get up in time to have the English breakfast offered at the guesthouse and then go out Iffley road to some locks (?) that are there. A kindly woman on the local bus I took from the coach station yesterday told me about them and suggested them as an option "when you get tired of Oxford." I don't really know where they are, but I suspect if I simply walk down the road, I'll find them. I'm going to treat myself to eating out one meal tomorrow, at a location yet unknown, and also go to the Museum of Oxford which is open from noon to five, and then the evensong. Then, sadly, my England trip will be over; I'm taking the coach to Heathrow to arrive by 10 o'clock for my one o'clock flight. I still have a couple of touristy things I'd like to buy, like a fridge magnet and if I can find a car decal with either the English or Scottish flag, that'd be great. My other Scotland sticker finally got so grotty I scraped it off. I'm at an internet cafe right now, one I'd scoped out my first trip into town. The price isn't bad, £1 for 45 minutes, so I'll probably come back by again tomorrow.
For all those who've been along with me via my travelogues, I hope you've been enjoying!! ♥