Oxford!

Hey all! 

So this past Friday I went to Oxford with the group! It was so cold: 49 degrees cold!!!! and for the rest of the week it is going to be low 60's high 50's....brrr and this is only October!!!! at least I have me coat now!!! :D

Anyway back in Oxford....we took a tour around the city and went to some of the different colleges that comprise Oxford University like: Christ Church ( were some of the 1st Harry Potter movie was filmed) and where Lewis Carroll - he wrote Alice in Wonderland andThrough the Looking Glass - taught! As we continued to walk we past by the school where J.R.R. Tolkien taught and where C.S. Lewis taught at as well. 

Christ Church College founded by Cardinal Wolsey - yes the one that was during the time of Henry VIII! Not only that but this is where Lewis Carroll lived with his family and taught... his daughter Alice was his inspiration for Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass!

Merlton - J.R.R. Tolkien taught here!

The beginning of the Golden Compass was shot here at Essex ( i think that is the name) College - it is where Lyria lived!

sorry about it being sideways! but this is Magdalene - pronounced Maudlin - this is where C.S. Lewis taught! in fact when you walk into the school there are all of these statues and one is Mr. Thomnas (?) the Faun! and other characters - i actually didn't go there i just saw it from a distance the same with Merlton.

Oxford is a very lovely place!  You have the bustling town center on one hand and then one the other you have these big meadows where there is a very outside of a town feel.  Then we went to the Turf Tavern where supposedly Bill Clinton inhaled illegal substances.  

After Lunch we went to Christ Church to tour it! 

The quadrangle - it is all of the student and faculty housing.

The steps in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, when they first arrive at Hogwarts before entering into the Great Hall!

Me Standing on the Steps!!!!!!!!! 

What the modeled the dinning hall after in Harry Potter!

Look! it is Henry and Elizabeth... being in the presence of originals is mind blowing!

After touring Christ Church College, I made my way over to Alice's Shop where all things having to do with Lewis Carroll and Alice stories are sold at ridiculous pricing! I came out with two things a book of his complete works and a present for Mar! Then I made my way back out- having to make it through a sea of pushy Chinese tourist-  to find Lisa, Jen, and Ruth who I was with after the touring of C.C.C. and we walked back to the coach to go back to London! 

The next post will be from Italy!!! hurrah for fall break!!!!!!

Love y'all tons and bunches!

ash