Our stay in London over the past week has been very hot. I
was not expecting this type of climate in the United Kingdom, and apparently
neither were Londoners. As I’ve turn on the news in the evenings, they
reiterate the unusual heat wave that is roaring through the region and will
continue to do so over the course of the week. Well, we went to Oxford today,
and boy was it hot. I’m not going to get into the politics of climate change,
but I wouldn’t be alone in saying that ice cream and a drink was a well-deserved
treat after a long day.
Our tour guide, Kathy Oxford Bench Seal
This is neither here nor there, but in fact, Oxford was
really fun and interesting. It’s always great to visit an amazing academic
institution. Considering that I will be entering into the academic librarian
profession, I found this trip to be particularly fulfilling. I’ve always been
interested in being surrounded by scholars within the realm of academia.
Honestly though, I think that statement is a really fancy way of saying I pride
myself in being a life long learner. We were also not alone, we had a the
guidance of a great tour guide in Kathy. Oxford is the quintessential academic
city, and I’d be hard pressed to find another area of such scholarly caliber
(although Cambridge students apparently might disagree).
I was really intrigued by the architecture of all of Oxford.
Much like many of the sites we have visited over the course of our program,
Oxford has a rich history of architecture and planning. All of the libraries
that we visited, along with Christ Church, provide amazing detail and insight
in medieval and post-medieval architecture. I mean, when you find some
buildings beautiful enough to film and base the Harry Potter movie sets off of them,
this is definitely saying something. Along with I attempting stay close to the
buildings in order to find shade away from the scorching hot day, it was very
helpful and exciting to have access (as a non-student) to the interior of Oxford
grounds. The level of history, stories, and politics are permanently tied into
the architecture of the cathedrals, college buildings, and other
structures. It was an interesting tour
with very intriguing facts. I really felt like I was transported through time
as we went through the tour.
Architectural Detail
As a side note, we also took a break after lunch to enjoy a
nice nap in the cemetery. I definitely haven’t done this stateside. Let’s hope
I didn’t upset anyone from the afterlife.
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