Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
I love day trips. Longer stays are nice as well, but day trips can be last-minute, spur of the moment decisions that allow you to see much of the country near you. With London and Cardiff booked for mid-term break, I was looking for a place nearby that I could easily (and for a reasonable price) travel to and that, of course, I fancied visiting. After some time staring at my Google Maps page, I decided that Oxford it would be.
Obviously, Oxford was synonymous to one of the top universities to me and I was curious to finally see it all. Admittedly, my knowledge was limited to what I learnt when I wrote my Masters dissertation about The Chronicles of Narnia but it's exciting to go some place and be able to discover it all once there.
I woke up very early this morning - that is 6:30 - to get ready for my 8 o'clock bus. Getting up was difficult as yesterday evening I was in front of the television until 22:15 watching Downton Abbey on ITV 1 (Cousin Matthew!) and then I was a little too excited to fall asleep straight away. Knowing that I need a good nine hours' sleep to feel fine, the seven hours or so I did have left me wishing for more. Half asleep I washed, had a light breakfast and put on my winter coat to walk to the bus stop. Oh wait! Lately it has been very cold in the morning so of course I put my winter coat on when I left at 7:45. And guess what? It was really quite "warm" actually. So I went back in and put on my mid-season coat instead. England, your weather will be the death of me.
Bus was on time. Which means that I was at the train station earlier than I thought and managed to catch a train to Reading straight away. Once in Reading, I only had to wait 5 minutes or so for a train to Oxford. How much more perfect could this get? I love taking the train. I feel like the most adventurous girl in the world when I am travelling to the unknown all by myself. I cannot think of anything better than independence!
The walk from the train station to the heart of Oxford was long-ish (about 10 minutes) and at some point I wondered if I was ever going to spot something related to, you know, the city? But then there it was! A high street! I could not be far from colleges, could I? I need to point out, here, that it was hardly 10 o'clock when I got there so the shops had just opened. But... what is it that I smell...? Could it be... Lush? And surely Lush it was! I could not resist and walked in - the only and probably first visitor of the day. The two saleswomen greeted me and one of them came to ask me whether I needed help. I answered that I was just having a look thankyouverymuch but she started a conversation and I was happy to take part. Being surrounded by children or mothers, I do like a good non-children related chat now and then. I informed her that Lush products could be up to two times more expensive back in France and she was both surprised and saddened by it as, as she said, Lush products are really good for your body and the planet and shouldn't be a luxury. I hear you, lady! She told me she found my English perfect - to which I shook my head. I always feel ill-at-ease when people tell me so as I don't think my English is fluent at all and I still need much improvement because it matches my own expectations. She then proceeded to ask me the dread question: why do you love England then? Why do I love England, then...? I've been asked this question many, many times and I haven't yet found the right answer. I told her that I'd grown up with a Beatles fan dad and a mum who enjoyed watching The Avengers. Could that be it? Love for a country, just like for a person, is something that you feel but could never quite explain. I love the tea-obsession, I love the houses, I love the random smiles from strangers, I love the crumpets, I love the landscapes, I love the accents, I love the contradictions, I love the history, I love the rock bands, I love the sense of humour, I love the literature. Hell, I love the good-looking men I wish I could make mine and that France will never provide. But we would need to have a cup of tea to discuss all of this, nice Lush lady. I left with a magic wand, a small Snow Fairy shower gel bottle and conditioner which should make my hair look healthier ('Why do you straighten your hair?' she asked me. 'You should embrace the curls!' Thank you very much for the encouragement, but embracing my stupid hair is something I'll never be able to do)
After leaving Lush, I walked on to Christ Church. Beautiful, beautiful place. At least religion has that for it: the churches are sometimes amazing buildings! I walked around the park up to the canal where I sat on a bench and wrote a postcard to my sisters. I have decided to send them a postcard from every place I visit. I don't know whether they even care or like it. Whatever. I encountered ducks - of which I took the funniest picture. Well at least it cracked me up! - and squirrels. How I love squirrels! Back to Christ Church I followed a path up (down?) to Magdalen bridge and college. I could not help but think of my own ugly, 1970s-designed university and wish I were 18 again and could enroll in a place like Oxford. Even if it sounds shallow - I felt that.
I forgot to mention that I came across two very annoying French girls on my way there. Twenty years old at most, the posh Parisian stereotype that I dislike so much. They were speaking loud in their exaggerated accents - hey! Look at us: we're French. Woo, exciting! French people are hard to find in Britain, aren't they? *rolls eyes* I would have kicked their posh bottoms quite happily! How I hate the French! They were then joined by two friends of theirs, one of which was a boy. They were all over him, giggling in a way that feminist me disapproves and then exclaimed, 'You 'ave never bin zere before?!'. So much for trying to look special. Speaking with a strong French accent will not make you sound any cooler, darlings. And to think I shame myself for the way I speak!
From Magdalen college, I walked around the different colleges and the Botanic Garden. Admittedly at some point I got confused as to what I was facing. I do know that I saw the Bridge of Sighs and found myself at the heart of the Bodleian libraries which took my breath away! How I would have loved to write my dissertation between these walls! The architecture, the history... It was simply amazing. I could have stayed there forever! An Asian family kindly asked me to take a picture of them there, which I did, and then I walked on because all good things come to an end.
I made a not-so-glamorous stop at Boots to buy myself a sandwich (vegetables/feta cheese wrap which was only 245 kcal. Woohoo!) which I ate on a bench outside and then slowly proceeded to go back to the station because tiredness was taking over. It was a little past 3 o'clock by then.
I really enjoyed Oxford. There was something dream-like which Lille 3 definitely lacked (and I know you can't quite compare them for a long list of reasons, but we're not getting into political talk now). I saw there was a castle - and even a Harry Potter-based tour!!! - which I didn't have the time nor energy for so I will go back. Probably in the spring: it must be beautiful in the spring.
- comments