Today began with a walk down High Street in Oxford, where many of the most famous and oldest colleges are located. The photo above shows the ca. 1200 a.d. church of St. Mary which is now the chapel of University College.
Having worn myself out today I’m going to post photos of some of the places I saw instead of writing about them.
This is an entrance to Magdalen College. Note the detailed carving which is centuries old.
This picture taken at the entrance to the Botanic Garden in Oxford shows the tower of on of the college churches in the background.
A gentleman eating his lunch in the quiet beauty of the Bontanic Garden. I like to think he’s an “Oxford don” (a professor).
On my way out of the Botanic Garden I found this beautiful lily pond.
Later in the day I wandered around the Bodeleian Library, tge Sheldonian Theatre, the Radcliffe Camera and the Bridge of Sighs, show here. It’s modeled after and takes its name from the real Bridge of Sighs in Venice.
All the colleges I found today were closed to tourists. I had read that they were often open for quick tours in the afternoon but there are a great many tourist and tour groups in Oxford at this time. I’m sure that had something to do with the closing. I was sorry not to get even a peek. This photo represents the many closed entries I passed.
At this college entrance I told the guard to “smile!” He did, as you can see, and I got a quick view inside the walls but I didn’t get in!
Very near all those famous places I listed I found a row of houses painted in pretty pastel colors. There are more than this picture shows — the row bends away.
I was delighted when I read this plaque on the blue house in the center of this row. I honors one of my heroes.
This sculpture on a doorway is centuries old. Evidently Oxonians looking down their noses at the world is an old custom too.
More tomorrow,
Libbie
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