Oxford!

Yesterday, a bus of about 20 people from the program traveled the hour and a half trip to Oxford. Diane, our tour guide, led us through the history of Oxford and all its buildings. It was a beautiful day, perfect for being outside. We arrived in Oxford around 11 am and Diana took us on a walking tour. We passed all of the famous colleges and Diana gave us a famous person who attended each one. We also saw the Martyrs statue which was built for Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and the two bishops Latimer and Ridley. Thomas Cranmer issued Henry VIII's divorce to Catherine of Aragon and all of the bishops were part of the reformation. So when Mary Tudor became queen (Catherine's daughter) she tried to restore Catholicism and had the bishops burned at the stake. We got to see the cobblestone with an X on it on the street where they were burned. 

After touring the town, we had some free time to do whatever we please. The flat mates and I went and ate at Eagle and Child pub. This was a popular hang out for C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. When we finished eating, we roamed around tow

n looking at historical buildings. Then we met with Diana and some of the other group members to take a tour through Christ Church.

Christ Church was originally supposed to be a college sponsored by Cardinal Woolsey, but when the Cardinal fell from King Henry's good graces, the King made it into Christ Church. Christ Church is also the filming area for some of Harry Potter! The main dinning hall is where Hogwarts dinning hall is filmed and the stairs leading up to the dinning hall are also featured in the films. Remember when Neville Longbottom loses his toad on the stairs... those are the stairs :). We toured the cathedral and the chapel where there are many memorials and burials of famous people. It was a very historically interesting day, and Oxford is absolutely beautiful!

We got home from Oxford around 5:00. The flat was a stir because at 6:45 the season finale of Britain's Got Talent was on! We had to see if Susan Boyle would win... unfortunately she did not. Dang.. we were all rootin for you Susan! After the Finale, the girls and I made an alcohol run and then came back to the flat for some flat mate bonding! 

Today we have been doing our very fun and educational project (not) that is due tomorrow. Nothing like waiting till the last minute...