Oxford

Our last trip outside London was to one of the most well-known cities of England and a big university area — Oxford . For all cultural people this name itself is a symbol of top education in the world, the goal for most brilliant minds to learn at, my desire for many years. This is the place of old buildings but young people, ancient traditions but new spirit, senior wisdom but junior desires. It's amazing that there you really feel the thick atmosphere of Knowledge and Age right in the air. Just imagining ancient books in huge libraries, best scientists thinking in these rooms, poets and writers walking in these gardens, the concentration of discoveries of many centuries and new technologies of education makes you want stay here to find out the deepest secrets of ancient knowledge kept within these Oxford University walls.

Oxford

Unfortunately it was the time of summer break and there were not many students but tourists around. We started out tour through the historic center with the visit of the oldest construction — St. Michael's Church at the Northgate.

St. Michael's Church

From the top of its XI century tower we had a splendid view on the spires and roofs of Oxford University Colleges. Looking down the narrow old street from the tower we were surprised to see so many people walking — all visitors of this little university town.

Oxford

Inside the church there are interesting stain-glasses and some of them from the late XIII century are the oldest in Oxford . Many famous people have been to this church including William Shakespeare, William Morris and King Charles I and now we were as well (not yet famous).

All Souls College

It was very unusual to find such a unique system of university divided into different colleges (36 all in all) each having its own place with the central church, class rooms, dormitories, dining rooms all in one building with a green lawn in the middle. Most of the University Colleges (Christ Church, Trinity, All Souls, Lincoln, St. John, Merton, etc.) were founded in between of XIII and XVI centuries.

St. Mary's University Church

Built in Gothic style with sky aimed towers, arches, vaults, spires and thousands of funny sculptural decorative creations the University complex seems unreal settings for a fairy-tale or historical movie. Probably that's why it became home for one of the best children's books “Alice in Wonderland” and the scene of filming for famous Harry Potter.

Main constructions of Oxford University that play such important role in life of this establishment for all colleges are the Sheldonian Theater and the Bodleian Library. Lime-stone brown rotunda of the Sheldonian Theater surrounded with the vivid expression portraits of antique philosophers and a grill serves for scientific conferences, invention reports and graduation ceremony that is still Latin only.

Sheldonian Theater

The Bodleian Library, one of the largest libraries in the world and the main research library for the University receives a copy of each book printed in Great Britain . Separate round XVIII century building of the library — the Radcliffe Camera — was originally constructed as the memorial for John Radcliffe, the doctor of medicine. It looks more like a French or Italian Baroque style church rather then a library, especially here where everything is surrounded with churches of different colleges.

Radcliffe Camera

I was much impressed with the wonderful collections of Oxford museums such as History of Science Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and the fact that the admission is free! It's a great way for students to study right at the things you see. As for the Ashmolean Museum — I've read a lot about it and was thrilled to see it. I've learned that it's the oldest public museum in Britain that was opened in 1683.Now it has the University's collection of art & artifacts including some very good pieces by Old Masters, few by Post-Impressionists and many by Pre-Raphaelites (they were the main goal of my visit there and it was quite fascinating ). There are many other interesting things to see such as numismatic and music instruments collection, antics and furniture, glassware and silverware. I just wish I'd have more time to spend there but as in many places like this one that concentrate treasures of art and culture I hope to come back there one day again and spend enough time then.

While I was in the museum Sasha went to walk in the University Parks near the river Cherwell. It turned out to be a beautiful, picturesque and poetic place with many green lawns, different vegetation, great views and University sport grounds.

University Park

Many young people were sailing along the river with boats and punts — it was a lovely sunny day and sailing along this quiet stream seemed to be the best way to enjoy it with laziness and pleasure.

University Park

Following our goal of studying as much in Oxford as we can for one not full day we had to resist this strong temptation and yield to another one instead — the Blackwell's Bookshop. This is just heaven for those who like books — thousands of best most colorful and brilliant books in the world, wonderful editions, rare writers to find, all topics you could ever think, several buildings and floors with not only books but records, CDs, DVDs, maps, posters, postcards, etc., etc., etc. Somehow we found strength in ourselves to leave this Kingdom of Books only without 60£ missing in our pockets and only with couple of extra kilos of the most desirable possessions in our bag pack.

Trinity College

Walking along the Broad Street we dropped in almost all the clothing shops to find something with Oxford sign to bring home. In many of them we found nice college uniforms but learned it's quite an expense to fit the life style of the University, at least we couldn't allow ourselves to buy anything. Instead we found a wonderful designers' furniture shop with the sweetest and most wonderful cat & mouse dinner set. It was it! We had to buy a plate and a cup that is still Sasha's favorite. On the cup black well-fed cat holds an apple and a banana with the knife and fork in both hands and says “Born to cook” and a little grey mouse draws away an apple. This funny, self-assured but quite lost in how to cook cat reminds us of Sasha and small, not obeying cheerful mouse — of me. Now this plate and cup warm up atmosphere of our meals at home.

At the end of our trip both of us were so hungry — we had to find a place to eat in Oxford . Such a relief it was to learn that anywhere you go you can find all the same places in Africa, North Pole or Oxford — McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut! And of course at Pizza Hut they had a special offer for lunch, so both of us were pleased: Sasha with pizza and “as much as you can eat” ice-cream and I with the reasonable price.

Oxford

These are the memories we brought back together with items and pictures from the charming, thoughtful Oxford and they call us to come back one day again.

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