Day 3 Oxford

We got up early, as there is no resting on a KDS vacation, and tried the "breakfast" part of our b&b. Traditional English breakfast is eggs, bacon (our ham), tomatoes and toast. Cooked breakfast was extra so we were contented with juice, cereal, yogurt, "homemade" croissants, toast and fresh fruit. Along with the coffee and tea, our normal daily breakfast was so boring! Also there was a buffet of hard boiled eggs, sliced tomatoes, thin sliced ham and packaged cheddar cheeses. After eating, a few items dropped into my bag for lunch. It saves time later and is very economical. With bottled water, lunch is served on any park bench. We've done the same thing throughout Italy and France.

I wanted to see the Bodleian Library, the second largest library in the world! Rather that wait outside in the rain for the tour, we had a quick look at a special exhibition, "The British Choral Tradition." Stop rolling your eyes---it was better than getting wet! It was in a small room with glass cases that contained original choir music from the Middle Ages to the Handel's "Messiah" from 1741. Will any current music still be played in 250 years? Will any current "anything" still be around?

Time for the library tour. We first saw The Divinity School, one of the oldest (1450s) university buildings still in use and learned that the small walled town of Oxford started attracting many students in the 12th century when Henry II banned English scholars from the University of Paris. University of Oxford became the first university in the English speaking world. For Harry Potter fans, the Divinity School is used as Hogwarts infirmary!

Bodleian Library (started in 1613 by a former student) is not a lending library with rows and rows of books to read or just look at! A "member" (not even the general Oxford public) can read the more than 5 million books but only at one of the various reading rooms of the library system. Our guide said King Charles I was even refused permission to borrow a book! These are strict librarians!! This library has received a copy of every book printed in the UK for the last 400 years. Yes, they are going digital!! But we did get to see Duke Humfrey's Library (started about 1425) where the most valuable books are still chained backwards (spines in) to the bookcases. You can read it but not steal it. (See the b & w photo)

Duke Humfrey was the son of Henry IV, brother to Henry V and uncle to Henry VI; he donated more than 280 manuscripts to the University. So naming a library after him was just good PR. And the Potter films used Duke Humfrey's Library as Hogwart's Library. You might think we were taking the "Potter Tour" but the films just used great sights!

Next on the list was a walking tour of the city. We got a fast paced history lecture on Oxford and the University of (which was very confusing, not at all like USA universities). If you want more details check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford . Don is still trying to figure it out.

As it was exam week when colleges are closed to visitors we only got to see the chapel at Exeter and a little of Christ Church College (largest). But Christ Church hall was used as inspiration for (again, sorry) Hogwart's dining hall. Overall, if one of my grandchildren was inspired to attend Oxford, I would have to go live with them just to be in those surroundings.

Dinner plans were for a pub that began in 1242 called "The Bear". The current building is newer (17th century) and the name comes from something about "a bear pit" on the original site. It was about as big as our living room with 7 foot ceilings and "Friday night" crowded so we tried a Thai restaurant down the street. Delicious!! What happened to the "bad" English food?