That is not a joke. Two full hours of sitting through readings about God smiting people with poisonous snakes and other things that were almost as memorable, though I can't remember them now. However, I was rewarded for this patience and good faith. Here is why:
1. There were choir boys, dressed in red with white robes, who sang BEAUTIFULLY and gave me goosebumps.
2. I went to the Matins and Evensong services (this isn't so much a reward as just an awesome thing).
3. Christ church is awesome and gorgeous AND
4. I found the harry potter staircase. YESSSSSSS.
5. The second time Greg and Giuli, my high school friends, were with me.
So, all in all, it was a great day. Though if you told me when I woke up this morning that I would be sitting through mass twice, I would have laughed and told you you were quite crazy. But anyways, on with the actual events of the past few days.
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| the hobbit hole |
We got to Oxford around 11:00 on Saturday (I packed much too much, as usual), and then were showed to our rooms. Let me just tell you a few things about the rooms here: HOLY MOLY PASTACOLEY, they are extremely confusing. It's a good thing I have a good sense of direction, cause otherwise I would never have found my room again. You have to go through a door in the quad, past the monument to Percy Shelley (who was expelled after his first year for writing a pamphlet on Atheism--though to be fair, the college didn't know then that he was going to be a famous poet), through a door, up a set of stairs, through four more doors, down some stairs, up some more, through another door, and then up and up and up and up... Jeesh! And then if you want to go to the bathroom on my floor, you have to go through the little hobbit hole. Which means a door roughly the size of the little door that was in my room when I was growing up. And my room and hallway looks out over all the rooftops of Oxford. I can just imagine Lyra creepin up to my window to say hello, let's play kids and gobblers!
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| the great hall |
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| Part of the Bodleian Library |
After got here, then, we of course had to have some more orientation type deals. We listened to an Oxford professor tell us all about the college (you're not allowed to walk on the grass unless you're a fellow or a ghost, University College is the oldest one--this is argued about, of course, there are some colleges that don't accept students... and other things of that sort). Then we were taken on a tour of the college itself, and then around Oxford. After which, of course, we went straight to Ben's Cookies (why does this exist i'm going to get so fat), and then walked around for a bit before I headed back to the college to go with people to see the rugby game between england and ireland. England lost, but I didn't get to see the game cause the pub was so crowed and we left early. I then took a much deserved nap, and then went out with Linley people for dinner at the Turf (the oldest pub in Oxford). It was rather good--I always enjoy a nice burger and cider. Ah, the small pleasures in life. Anyways, we had a lovely dinner, sitting outside, and then went back to my room (as I have internet) and talked until midnight.
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| Not the church I went to, but | pretty! |
Then the next day dawned and at NINE O'CLOCK I was down in the great hall for breakfast, and then I went to church at 9:30. Then I went to find Greg and Giuli and Jessica and we actually met up with minimal difficulty, seeing as they did not have an international cell phone. It was SO GREAT to see them, I have missed them terribly. So first, I showed off my hobbit hole and the maze to my room, and then we went to Ben's Cookies (I'm telling you, they are delicious). Then I dropped them off at the Turf for lunch, and I went PUNTING!!
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| Me punting |
So, punting. This activity is not as easy as you would think. It takes a lot of effort to shove that pole down there and push yourself along. We kept on turning around at inopportune points. However, I was able to purchase a 3 pound punting hat, which fell into the river before we had barely gotten started. It's okay, though, someone picked up and gave it back when we docked. We all punted (at least for a little bit) in our boat, and it was a blast and a half, and beautiful beyond belief. Plus, it was sunny, thank goodness.
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| Me and Giuli and the Lemon Tree |
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| Harry Potter!!! |
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| Outside Christ Church |
Then I went back and met Giuli and Greg and Jessica again, and we went to the botanical gardens. I failed to find the bench that Lyra and Will sat on, and the tree that Tolkien sat under, so I will have to go back. Which is fine--my family is coming soon!! Then we walked over to Christ Church and saw the fields behind it and an amazing hot air balloon (which I imagined Lee Scoresby to be piloting), and then we decided to go to the Evensong service. So to wait for that time, we went to the oldest coffee house in England (or so they say) that was opened in 1650. I had some lovely lavender tea, which in conjunction with the choir boys' voices, almost put me to sleep. After that and the second church service of the day, WE FOUND THE HARRY POTTER STAIRCASE!!! So now, I have seen Harry's home in the first movie, the muggle house slughorn was borrowing in the 6th book, and the staircase from the first movie (where the scene when malfoy says, "So it's true what they've been saying on the train then? Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." and then "Think my name's funny, do you? There's no need to ask yours; red hair, and a hand-me-down robe, you must be a Weasley."). That scene. AWESOME.
Then we met my friends for dinner at All Bar One, and I had a lovely chicken and wine and fondue. IT WAS FANTASTIC. Then Greg and Giuli and Jessica and I all went to a pub called the Bear, which was so cute and made for short people and they had people's ties pinned up all over the walls. Then we left in search of The Eagle and The Child (where the Inklings met) but it was Sunday so it (and all other pubs) was closed. Major bummer. But, it was still great to see Giuli and Greg. All in all, it was a GREAT DAY. Anyways, that should be it for now--I have to get ready for class. Pshhh class. What are we still having that for? Silly business.
-LPRO
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