Here’s another favourite city for you. Someone once described Oxford to me as a “toy town”, and the metaphor is apt. The city is quite small, built around the castle-like buildings of the university. It’s quaint yet majestic, historic yet home to ideas of the future. And boy, is Oxford ever pretty!
Sneaking a peek of one of Oxford’s colleges.
Magdalen College on a grey May day.
Juggling on the High Street.
Random question and story: Have you ever answered a pay phone call? I did for the first time on my last visit to Oxford in June. I was walking up Walton Street, heading towards Port Meadow, and as I passed by a telephone booth, the phone inside started ringing. Not one to let a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass her by, I answered the call. I don’t know who was more confused, my friends who didn’t understand why I was stepping into the phone booth, or the anonymous caller on the other end of the line. I think he said that he was “just calling to see if there’s anyone out there” or something; whatever he said, he was a little bit creepy and possibly lonely. Had this been a movie and not real life, he could’ve been a hostage, a terrorist, or maybe even Mel Gibson (NSFW). But since it’s real life, the caller just hung up.
Answering the call of curiosity. Photo by Adam Awad.
Oxford University itself is, of course, magnificent, but the city it’s named after boasts a few attractions itself. If you find yourself in Oxford, here are a few stops to consider after your Harry Potter tour:
Olives: If you head here around lunch time, be prepared to stand in line. Olives offers a whole lot of goodness out of its little shop. You can purchase a number of European foodstuffs here, from made-to-order sandwiches, to a selection of fine deli meats, to preserves and spreads that’ll push those cans of tuna far back into your pantry.
The Rose: Also on the High Street, just a block or so away from Olives, the Rose has a very affordable menu, including a more than fairly-priced option for cream tea. If the scones and sandwiches don’t fill you, then the generous slice of cake will finish you off. I also appreciated the simple décor and unpretentious service, which has allowed myself and my friends to conduct immature, inappropriate conversations over cups of tea.
Enjoying a cup of vanilla tea at The Rose. Photo by Adam Awad.
Port Meadow: Forget the spires or the libraries; this is where I spent the bulk of my time during my last few Oxford visits. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to play with the wild horses that call the meadow their home. If you’re really lucky, you may see some of Oxford’s finest going for a jog (perhaps in preparation for a particular rowing event). Pack your allergy tablets, plan a picnic, and black out a sunny afternoon in your calendar.
Port Meadow and wild horses!
My little pony.
Goofing around in Port Meadow with Adam. Photo by Marc Troughton.
PONIES!!!
Don’t they remind you of Mario?!
Everything reminds me of Mario.
Also I think Phone Booth would’ve been the most accurate allusion.
Good call! I edited the post and put that reference in instead.
Oh jugglers on high street. Those were good times.