We went off to the Weston Library at first to see an exhibition on Alice in Wonderland. There wasn't a lot there but there were some first copies showing the Tenniel prints which were wonderful and some showing Dali's illustrations which weren't (to my mind in any case). The only thing I will say is that he can draw a good butterfly, but what the paintings were about and how they linked to the story was beyond me.
Then John went off to do his stuff and I joined a walking tour of the city. For 2 hours we walked around Baliol college, saw the remains of the city walls, visited the Bodleian, went in the old Divinity Hall, saw the college where the last Morse was filmed, visited the passage where CS Lewis came out of a door and got the inspiration for The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, saw the Bridge of Sighs and other bits and pieces. I took loads of photos but am having to consider carefully what I can actually put on here, otherwise it will take all night!
Quad at Baliol.
Baliol Chapel window
The last remaining tower built by the Saxons to keep the Vikings out (it probably didn't have the window in it at the time).
The Divinity Hall - the first purpose built lecture theatre, there would be 6 lectures going on in here at once apparently, so not ideal conditions. Some of you may know this as the hospital in Harry Potter and also as the room where they learnt to dance for the Christmas Ball in Harry Potter.
.....and then just off to the side was the lamp-post, and of such an amazing story was born.
Once the walk had finished John and I met up, had lunch and then went to Christ Church College to see the Hall and the Cathedral Church. He baulked somewhat at the queue but I put him there and bought him an ice cream and all was well. To be honest it went down quite quickly, as did the ice cream!
The Hall which was used for the Hogwarts refectory. I think it's amazing how they put it all back together after Bellatrix ruined it.....
This was the staircase leading up to the Hall, I thought the ceiling was amazing.
I had to include this as it's so rare to get one of John smiling!
Christ Church, the view down the nave. A stunning place, unfortunately there is going to be a concert there tomorrow night and our mooring is only until the morning, but maybe another time.
Finally, this is the view from our side hatch, it rings the tones every quarter and is really quite lovely.
Tomorrow we head off up the canal and hope to find a mooring at Thrupp, there's never been one there before when we've gone past but we've been so lucky with moorings recently I've got a good feeling about it. Even the weather isn't meant to be too bad so we shall have positive thoughts!
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