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Week Two - Recap
Maybe a bit late -- but no worries! It was quite a busy week last week, full of classes, theatres, and a daytrip too! I am not sure how I haven't started having some strange & violent dreams considering the plays we have been reading. All full of lecherous men, cheating housewives, devious nobles, and more blood and gore than a bad slasher movie!
The Highlights:
Tuesday – The RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon. We saw “Midsummer Night’s Dream” complete with a big dance number at the end and Wall in briefs – brings a new mean to “stones.” I had a chance before the show to walk around Stratford a bit. Only got caught in the rain a couple of times. For those keeping score that night it was rain 3, sun 2. If you look at the picture of Shakespeare’s birthplace you may notice how bright and sunny it looks while also looking very damp! Crazy, crazy weather.
Thursday – It was off to London & The Globe Theatre for another performance of “Dream.” The whole Globe Theatre thing was pretty amazing, but possible the best part was the actor who plays Demetrius (a rather major role) was “indisposed” that evening (not sure exactly what that means, other than “he’s not here for the “book in hand.” He was amazing, and although he did have book in hand, never seemed to use it! So, Bravo Adam Burton!!
Iffley Lock & Church – Jamie and I went for a bit of a walk south on the Thames – we didn’t quite make it to London, but we did manage a mile or two down to the Iffley Lock and from there through a very sweet village to St. Mary the Virgin Church. The church was built around 1170 and is one of the best-preserved twelfth century churches in England. We also met with many creatures on our way (cows, horses, ducks, and geese!)
Bath – Saturday was the big daytrip to Bath, home of the Roman baths and big Jane Austen pilgrimage spot. We went on a two-hour Jane Austen walking tour (much fun & took us all over town!), tried Sally Lunn’s famous buns (much like giant hamburg buns but a bit sweeter) toured the famous Roman baths & drank the water (Yuck!), and had plenty of wine in the famous Pump Room! It was a great and busy day! I spent much of Sunday recovering!
Cheers!
Weather!!??
As I look out my window, I see what is becoming a very regular 
site -- the darkening of the previously sunny sky! I think my best purchase before leaving for Oxford was my handy red raincoat. I t has been my constant companion of the past week and a half (along with my sunglasses!). You never know what the weather will be like from one moment to the next (note the two pictures taken within hours of each other!)
The saying here goes, "If you don't like the current weather, wait an hour." Well, time for me and Seneca to try to beat the rain!
Cheers!
Week One Recap:
It is hard to believe that I have only been here for one week! I feel I have experienced both the authentic and the "let's-see-what-we-can-get-the-Americans-to-believe."
- Pimms -
Before just a familiar sounding British drink, now just kind of yummy.
I first experienced Pimm's at Deep Hall, Lincoln College's bar. It is very hard to describe, and until looking it up in the always reliable wikipedia, quite a mystery as to what it actually is. So according to Wikipedia, "Pimm's is a brand of alcoholic beverage. Its most popular product is Pimm's No. 1 Cup, a gin-based beverage that can be served both on ice or in cocktails. The recipe of Pimm's No. 1 Cup is secret; it has a dark tea colour with a reddish tint, and tastes subtly of spice and citrus fruit. Pimm's is most common in Britain, particularly Southern England. It is one of the two staple drinks at Wimbledon, the Henley Royal Regatta and the Glyndebourne opera festival, the other being champagne. As a result Pimm's has the reputation of being a drink for the upper class." When I asked our bartender about he did allow that they don't see much of it except when "you all are here." I guess that says it all...
- "Nightclubs" - First you must look for the big group of fifteen-year-olds grouped outside smoking. But, beware before you get your hopes up, it could just be a "hole-in-the-wall" (ATM). If there is American club music
from about 2004 playing as well, you have probably found the place. Walk down the flight of stairs into what looked like, according to one of the men in our group, a strip club, complete with black lights. Have I mentioned yet the cover charge??? Yup, that too £4 (that is $8 to us Americans!), oh yeah, and another £1 to check your coat. Get yourself a beer (very little bottles, makes you feel like a giant) for £3 and hit the dance floor! There you have it the British nightclub.
Well, those are just a few of the highlights of the first week. We also went to Stratford-Upon-Avon last night to see "Midsummer Night's Dream" at the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company). Check out the Stratford album -- showing both the Bard's birthplace and grave!
Have spent some hours at the Bodleian Library, and sat at the High Table the first night here. (Think Hogwarts opening of school dinner without the ghosts.) Got to the Pitt-Rivers museum before it closed for renovations and saw the famous Oxford Dodo (see Pitt Rivers Album). Have visited a couple of pubs. I hope to hit more as the weeks progress! Keep an eye on the Pub Album for new additions!
Day 3 - Bodleian Oath & Long Thames Walk (2 July)
Well today was the big day. We gained entrance into the mysterious Bodleian Library. However, they don't let you just walk right in. You must first take "the oath."
In Latin: "Do fidem me nulllum linrum vel instrumentum aliamve quam rm ad bibliothecam pertinentum, vel ibi custodiae causa depostitam, aut e bibliothece sublaturum esse, aut foedaturum deformaturum aliove quo modo laesurum; itm neque ignem nec flammam in bibliothecam inlaturum vel in ea accensurum, neque fumo nicotiano aliove quovis ibi usurm; item promitto me omnes leges ad bibliothecam Bodleianam attinentes semper observaturum esse" (I'm guessing no one will notice the typos)
In English: "I hereby undertake not to remove from the Library, or to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document, or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library or kindle therein any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to obey all rules of the Library."
After taking the oath I received my "library card." Harry Potter/Bodleian Library trivia -- The infirmary in the first Harry Potter film was shot in the Divinity School (see photos) and the Hogwarts Library was shot in the Duke Humfrey's Library (haven't managed to find my way there yet & no photography in the library proper).
After dinner (8pm) a friend and I went for what was planned to be a short walk. We crossed the river at Folley Bridge and thought we would walk until we found another crossing -- this turned out to be much (a mile or two) further down the river. What was intended to be no more than an hour turned out to be an hour and forty-five minute walk, but we did find some really neat sites: Her Royal Highness's swans, the University boathouses, an area called Iffley and the track on which Roger Bannister ran the subfour minute mile.
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