OXFORD

After a nice relaxing week at the University of Cambridge, how can I not visit its age old rival in Oxford?   (It just wouldn’t be fair.)   So off I went for a day long expedition to the “city of dreaming spires.”  Oxford is so steeped in tradition that you can feel the old vibes ooze off the walls of the college buildings…at least in my mind.  I won’t compare Oxford to Cambridge though, since they seem very distinct from one another in terms of character (educated, posh and rich elite similarities aside).  Apologies that I’ve been procrastinating in the creation of this entry because I actually have to hunker down in front of my desk and focus using whatever little brainpower left to churn out a nice, readable and coherent blog post.   As usual, below are some pictures, enjoy!

This is Christ Church College, University of Oxford - one of the more famous and wealthier schools.  The college is known for its alumni, which includes many British Prime Ministers, John Locke, John Rawls and even King Edward the VII.  However, in recent times it is best known for…

The dining hall!  The room may seem familiar to you, but if you can’t quite put your finger on it, this dining hall is used in the Harry Potter movies.  However, it’s actually a lot smaller than it looks on the big screen.  (Curse you CGI technology for disappointing me!)

Above is a section of the main quad of Christ Church, but you aren’t able to step on the grass or stand in the middle where that fountain is on the left hand side of the picture (Oxford has some really odd traditions/rules).  There are porters guarding it and on the way out my friends and I were stopped because they thought we were Asian tourists that didn’t have access to the college (that’s another story for another day) and then told us we couldn’t step on the grass.  They really guard the grass in Oxford with zeal.

The tower and building here is part of Magdalen College, University of Oxford.  (FYI: It’s pronounced “maudlin”.)  This college is also wealthy and well-known.

One of the buildings at Magdalen College - the pillars and arches remind me of Stanford.

Deer!  Now that’s something you don’t expect on a college campus, do you?  These deer are actually a part of Magdalen College, and their little protected spot is called “The Grove”.  Unfortunately, deer territory is protected by a fence so no one can disturb the animals.  My friends and I observed the “herd mentality” of the deer.  Quite interesting.

This is a gate (obviously), but a gate with legend attached to it.  Apparently, should a couple walk through this gate holding hands, they are bound to break up.  Easy way to end those unwanted relationships, isn’t it?  Smart thinking, Magdalen, smart thinking indeed.

Mmm Mango ice cream.  OK, so this is a random segway, but before you go “huh?” just bear with me for a sec.  Oxford has a lot of colleges, and I was getting hot and icky walking through all of them in the blazing sun.  What better way to cool down than with some ice cream?  Besides, it’s Oxford tradition to eat at this store (I think it’s a local chain).  Can’t argue with tradition, right?  Also, note the thumbs up approval from my friend’s friend.

An Oxford street. (My hands are getting tired of typing and clicking.)

The Radcliffe Camera - this building originally housed a science library, but now just holds some other books.  I consider this an Oxford landmark.

The chapel is a part of Keble College, Oxford.  Note that the architecture and color here is different from the colleges I previously mentioned - apparently they wanted the college to be visually distinct.  I think they succeeded here.

Another photo of Keble College, Oxford.

Here is my friend’s college, Lady Margaret Hall (LMH).  The front entrance (which isn’t shown here) resembles a fortress wall with no windows.  LMH was also the first women’s college at Oxford.  Go figure.

LMH has a punting pier.  Typical Oxford.

Anyway, after touring several colleges, I ended up here for dinner.  Yes, it’s a pub - BUT it was the pub where J.R.R. Tolkien met C.S. Lewis.  If the interior layout hasn’t drastically changed, then the two men sat in a corner and chatted the evening away.  I stared at that corner for a few good minutes - it was pretty amazing.  Even pubs in the city are full of history! (Bill Clinton was known to spend some time in a certain pub called “The Goose” if I remember correctly.)  After dinner and a second round of ice cream, I was again London-bound (hopped on the bus this time).  I had a great time and I have to thank my friends again for showing me around.  Thanks guys!