Dearest gentle reader,
After another hearty English breakfast at the Imperial College, we boarded our coach and headed to the city of Oxford. The bus ride was sleepy and uneventful, provided by our wonderful driver, George. Upon arrival, we stepped out into the bright morning sun and gazed upon the cobbled streets and Gothic architecture that mark the city of Oxford. Our tour guide, Tim, gave us some nifty headsets that let us hear him from a distance and then gave us a brief overview of the city and its university.
While it’s primarily known for its world-class university, Oxford is full of its own rich history. Particularly, back during the Protestant Reformation, Oxford experienced some turbulent times. The English bishops Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer were burned at the stake in the streets of Oxford under Queen Mary Tudor’s bloody reign. Standing in the place where these stout religious officials were condemned was sombre, but necessary to appreciate the turbulent past of Oxford.
Having existed for almost a millennium, the University of Oxford is the premier collegiate institution in the United Kingdom and perhaps in the world (only second to Texas A&M). The halls of Oxford University have produced 33 prime ministers, famous authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and T.S. Eliot, and numerous nobel prize winners, highlighting the significant impact that solid education can have on culture and history. In addition to its academic accolades, Oxford holds a prominent place in current pop culture, serving as one of the primary filming locations of the Harry Potter movies. Walking among the birthplace of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings was remarkable and a memorable part of our trip.
For lunch, we were given free reign throughout Oxford. The majority went to the Covered Market, a quaint conglomeration of small restaurants and shops. I, for one, ate Moolin Rouge Pie, with mash and gravy, which was quite delicious.
Next, our afternoon excursion: Blenheim Palace. The birthplace and ancestral home of Winston Churchill, a set for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interior features baroque architecture and fine porcelain displays, while the surroundings consist of lavish gardens and fountains. A subsection of our team immediately departed for the hedge maze and butterfly gardens.
The rest explored the palace and formal gardens individually, many guided by the online audio tour. As we tour these grand estates during our trip, I enjoy placing myself in the positions of those who once resided in them. I wore horseshoes in the first area I explored – the stables consist of numerous stalls for the Duchess and Duke of Marlborough’s prized horses. It seems they adored their rides and races, but they also surely adored the indoors, for ornate paintings and elaborate ceilings characterized each room with dignified glamour. A certain favorite is the saloon, which features a tall painted ceiling It was also a location for a scene in the third season of Bridgerton, when Lady Danbury and the Queen play a symbolic game of chess.
Also at Blenheim Palace, another group of us went through the maze in the walled gardens. Weaving in-between the tall bushes was exhilarating, but also frustrating as we hit dead-ends and loops. Eventually, we all made it out, Preston first, Collin second, and the rest following suit. Afterwards, as we walked around the gardens, we encountered a small brown mouse, named him Craigory, and adopted him as a Brown Scholar pet.
Our night concluded with a memorable performance of Shostakovich’s 4th Symphony. Chaotic chords and turbulent melodies flooded through Royal Albert Hall and struck a magnificent spectrum of emotions in our hearts.
Happy Birthday to Derrick (18) and Mary Faith (19)! Derrick can now go into pubs here in London and Mary Faith can feel older than the rest of us. She’s the elder of the group for real. Poor Reva and John, the only remaining 17 yr olds of the group.
Yours truly,
Nitya and Preston <3