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University of Oxford: a wee bit of background

I thought that the University of Oxford was like a typical U.S. university, just way cooler because the buildings are so flipping old. But it isn't like an American university. Oxford is actually made up of 38 independent colleges. Students choose a college, all of which have dorm rooms, dining halls, libraries, fitness centers etc. The students attend classes with students from all the other colleges. We toured three colleges while in Oxford: Christ Church, Magdalen, and University.

Christ Church College

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Christ Church is where parts of Harry Potter were filmed. I know for a fact that the college has other things of which to be proud, like prime ministers and other famous people who went there, but right now all I can remember is the Harry Potter stuff. And I wasn't even one of those Potter nuts who stayed up until midnight to get the next book, then raced home to scarf it down. 
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The college's massive 16th century staircase, which leads up to the Great Hall, was used to film the scene where Harry and the other new first-years enter Hogwarts and are greeted by Professor McGonagall. I copied this information from someplace else. I didn't really remember it from the movie. It is a neat staircase, though.
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The college's Great Hall (dining room) was replicated in the film studio to create Hogwart's Hall.
 

Magdalen College

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When we enter the first courtyard within Magdalen College, we don't know where to look first.
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​University College 

See dorm rooms at University College

Saturday 9/21

Land at Heathrow, train to paddington, train to Exeter, train to barnstaple, walk to The Old Vicarage—where we are staying until Thursday.
Have to remember how to read these boards.
Our room.
Love the bath!
First, tea in the garden.
After our tea we walk to the bus station to pick up bus schedules. Hop the 21 to Fremington, which is where we left off last time.
On the path.
Ha! Bob wants “he was a character” on his tombstone.
Fairly uninteresting walk, mostly along marshes.
Security idea for PP@L
We’re on an old railroad line, cute tunnels and all. This looks like a tunnel from the Thomas videos.
Our first pub. This is Instow.
My new favorite drink. It’s cucumber and elderberry and so good I have two. Which means we are finished for the day! We’ll complete this stretch of the walk tomorrow.
We order fish& chips takeaway rather than eating it in the pub because (a) it’s about half the price, and (b) fish & chips taste best outside! Check out the newspaper wrapping!
Not so healthy but it’s the first night and we’re on the coast where the fish is fresh, so.

Sunday, 9/22 Morning

Ate a marvelous breakfast, then walked straight out of Barnstaple to pick up the path heading northwest.
We fill out a little form the night before, choosing our breakfast time and meal items. Plus, there’s a sideboard of granolas, yogurt, fruit, etc.
View from our table.
Walking through Barnstable before hike.
The path. Heading first to Braunton.
The path is flat and fairly unremarkable. Sky is threatening.
We reach Braunton, almost pass right by this, then decide to stop for a short break.
Lovely inside, nicest people.

Sunday, 9/22 Afternoon

We walk Braunton to Saunton, intending to catch bus at Saunton, except I read Saturday’s bus schedule instead of Sunday’s because it’s so easy to do that and we soon find out there is no Sunday bus service in Saunton.
This Is looking back to Braunton. Path leads along this estuary. I think it’s an estuary.
Blackberry bushes are everywhere!
We’re right next to military training grounds.
Lunch break. Sandwiches. Forgot to pack dessert.
Ha! We see this sign as we close the gate after walking across the field.
It’s here that we realize that no bus will be coming. Luckily there’s a golf course right next to the path and we bum a ride to Braunton, which we know for sure has Sunday buses.

Saturday, 9/22 Evening

Our main goal on Sunday every time we come to England is it to make it to a Sunday Roast Dinner. Usually we miss it. Today though we are lucky: we find a good place in Braunton and end the walk on a full-belly note. Total miles today: 11.5.
Roast beef, potato, assorted fresh veggies, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding. Yum.
Waiting in the rain for the bus back to Barnstaple.
The Vicarage at last! We are both exhausted.
This waits for us every afternoon. That’s fresh cream on top.
Washed our clothes though not very thoroughly.
Choose breakfast and go to bed!
  • 2019 Trip Blog
  • Our Hikes
  • 2016 Trip Blog
  • Town