Oxford

Having been to Cambridge many times, we felt a visit to Oxford a requirement before leaving England. Just a two hour drive away, we nevertheless felt an overnight stay was warranted for this, perhaps most historic university town of all. Although we limited ourselves to the center, the city itself is more than a university town, with a significant office and industrial element immediately outside the center.

Since we were only staying for a day, and were careful to keeping Kassie’s easily fatigued feet in mind, we decided to take a rather expensive hop-on, hop-off bus tour, our first ever. Sitting on top and in front of the open-roof double-decker, with the recorded tour to guide us, was an easy way to obtain an informative introduction to the city.

While Mommy continued on her Pre-Raphaelite trail by visiting the Ashmolean Museum, Kassie and Daddy kept themselves in shape with a 99-step (counted and confirmed) climb to the top of Carfax tower, a visit to Lewis Carroll’s (of Alice in Wonderland fame) Old Sheep Shop, followed by a walk through Christ Church College and Cathedral, where a handy children’s tour succeeded in keeping their minds off their aching feet.

As they learned, "Cardinal College" was founded in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey. When the Cardinal lost all his property to the avaricious and philandering King Henry VIII, it was re-founded and renamed Christ Church. The site is beautifully balanced by the vast meadow to the rear and the Great Quadrangle within.

Date of Our Visit: August 2005