We left Tina in bed half alive at 10 a.m. Met Steve, the hippie, biker, Phd historian, librarian, and apparently jack of all trades in the lobby of the hotel. A little review of our walking tour from yesterday, we arrive at the Bodleian library. Yesterday we learned it was new, cost a lot of money and where the bathrooms(toilets or WC) were located.
Today we learned the floors were a special limestone with special fossils visible every few feet. We also learned, and saw, one of the very few original copies of the Magna Carta, drafts of Through the Looking Glass, likely edited by Tolkien. (They were buddies), a partial first draft of Frankenstein, edited by Shelley's husband......The library is a repository, saved all the treasures of England in its basement due to Churchill's handshake with Hitler and so much more information it was an intellectual overload for my small brain.
We then bike toured the city of Oxford, again received more history, facts and anecdotes...than are humanly possible to retain under the circumstances. Amy was very attentive and she is now my repository of 1000 or so years of English history and she will soon be giving lectures for the Gem County historical society.
We finally made out of the city, espresso at the Trout circa 1263 or so, visited the park where Carroll too Alice for the picnic and setting for the story. He may have had some impure thoughts concerning the child according to yesterday's guide.
Returned to the hotel and Tina was almost cured. Back to the library for our favorite English teacher, a snack and and a drink at a college town-type pub and an excellent dinner at a Jamie Oliver, celebrity chef restaurant. We have had nothing but excellent food so far, except for the traditional English breakfast. Nancy
Great post Nancy! I love your choice of the word "impure" and dismissal of the excessive history you are fed each day. Also, I can perfectly picture my mom's focused listening traveller face. I've seen her use that expression most when listening to details regarding directions, transportation, history, and restaurants.
ReplyDeleteWhat did the celebrity chef cooks for you? What is it you don't like about the traditional English breakfast?
I can't believe the literary sights you all are experiencing. This English teacher is totes jelly!
That all sounds pretty civilized and sophisticated, but not nearly so much as listening to Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen sing songs and tell stories about drunk families and sick girlfriends in Texas at Christmas. AND, plan your pig hunt during the ride over! Ken and Dick really know how to whoop it up! Oh, this isn't Amy talking, but I must be typing on her computer or something.
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