Oxford

Tuesday, June 15

Lou dropped us off at the train station in Moreton-in-Marsh for our 37-minute commute to a fabulously medieval city we had only passed through days earlier. Oxford is known as the City of Dreaming Spires and certainly lives up to its motto. The university consists of some 38 colleges and six private halls, all scattered throughout the city.

Just off the train, Linda and I boarded a hop-on, hop-off open-air tour bus, the live guide on which provided a great overview and background info.

On our first walk, we climbed the 99 steps to the top of Carfax Tower to peer down onto the winding streets busy with buses, tourists, and robed scholars rushing to exams.

On the tower’s side, the Quarter Boys struck the hours.

High Street, locally called simply The High, claims examples of every era of British architecture since anyone paid attention.

We visited Blackwell book stores three times throughout the day. Thrift clothing outlets also attracted us, and I bought a sweater vest against the chill. For an early lunch, I tried traditional steak and kidney pie while Lina enjoyed egg, mushrooms, tomato, and beans.

Cornmarket Street is pedestrian-only and includes the city’s oldest structure, an 11th century Saxon tower.

Most remarkable was the decoration, especially gargoyles, grotesques, and ornaments of every description.

We didn’t miss the pubs either, by any means. Oxford’s oldest is the Bear, with its 4,500 tie snippet collection. More famous is the Eagle and Child, where C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien took their pints.

Trained back to end the day.