“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different”… C.S. Lewis

Oxford is on the southern end of the Cotswolds. It is the oldest and one of the most prestigious universities in England, perhaps in the world. We have finally chosen the day to visit. We leave Blockley early so we can spend the day in Oxford.

We arrive ( despite rush hour traffic and crazy crossroads… we fight city center traffic as school busses ( charter busses designated for school runs) and commuters jockey for space into the very busy lanes leading to a parking garage near the bus station.

Oxford is the city of intellect. The city is comprised of “ vine draped walls and hallowed halls” * it is classically a city of libraries and churches, more libraries which smack of learning. The 30+colleges which makes up Oxford are filled with the world’s scholars.

 

The Bodelian libraries house documents that are ageless… we’ll not really ageless, they can be dated but you get my drift. The city is the thing of movies… in fact while Harry Potter may be the most recent blockbuster, a long list of others have been filmed here. There are numerous stories that are rooted in Oxford.

We visit the Covered Market first. It is a wonderful collection of shops, restaurants, clothing,crafts, produce etc. It is quiet early on a Wednesday. Interestingly we had this conversation yesterday with Steve at the vineyard, not sure if the students are back yet…probably a good time to visit ( seems they are returning this weekend)

We tour the town and look in on the 3d exhibit in the library. The 3d exhibit highlights the development of geometry and the early attempts to demonstrate perspective and dimension evidenced in books from centuries ago. The connections throughout this trip are amazing. The tie back to Lucca and Florence with Leonardo Da Vinci to here the exhibit which includes Leonardo… an art exhibit/ scientific exhibit including other scientists and mathematicians as well, which exemplifies the explosion of knowledge,math and technology, and illuminates the capability of man over the centuries is amazing. … it is staggering that we know so much yet have advanced so little.

We climb the tower of the Bodelian libraries . The view of the city is amazing. The tower stairs remind us of Pisa, narrower, but straighter! The views are amazing. Hundreds of years of scholars have tread the passageways below and yet it still continues on!

 

The very narrow passageway at the top of the tower increases the squeeze of the viewing and heightens the interest in the view.  We must pass other viewers ( think thin and don’t breath as you shimmy past another) who are working their way back around the top towards the very same stairwell new viewers are climbing up… their are only friends here, very close friends! We arrive near the top as a man cleans the clock and insures it strikes 12 noon, precisely. After a wonderful resonance of the bells, the remaining views are ours for the taking.

We leave the tower and head to lunch. We have a reservation st the Eagle and Child.. a pub famous for its history as the pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.Tolkein met, ate, drank and wrote during their time at Oxford.. the pub is also known for their pies.. the chicken mushroom pie was exquisite as was the beef. We finished in time to go around the corner to the Ashmolean Museum.

It houses amazing collections of treasures from Egypt, Greece, India, all the ancient worlds.. the wealth and treasures here rival the national museum. It is well worth the trip.

 

We finish our day visiting the Divinity School. It has such a history and is an impressive site. It has had many intellectuals over the years sit in these seats, and now Harry Potter has a seat at the table.

Our last day in the Cotswolds… we have had a ball. This place is restorative. It refreshes the soul with its charm and natural beauty. The hikes ( even in the rain ) were energizing, the people were genuine and engaging, the experiences were so memorable.

On one of our first days here, a woman we met suggested several must see places. We have seen many of them now, and with one day remaining we decide to check out one of theB’s…Burford. What a great decision. It is a beautiful medieval village. There is a wonderful church, St. John the Baptist, which despite being a treasure of history of the town from medieval times with lord of this village, who was despised for his harsh rule of the town( his crypt is memorialized with an impressive monument of both Lord Lawrence and Lady Tanfield and the notes alongside it tell how he and she were burned in effigy every year for 200 years, is still an active church.

There is the nod to when prisoners were held in the church and one carved his name in the baptismal font, to the turret clock and on and on. Each area of the church has a story. The amazing thing is with a carefully detailed explanation for each this is still an active church. There are notices of upcoming events, groups the meet regularly and ways to give and contribute.

On the Main Street, there is every manner of shop from cheese stores, to craft, novelty and clothing stores. The street is dotted with tea rooms and keeps The Cotswolds charm with the cottage look is charming. We will miss it… and will probably return, but for now we are off to a quick stop in Wales, on to Dublin, then home!