Be Interesting

The Sheldonian

The title of this blog was written in chalk on the side of the Ioannou Centre where I had just finished the first class of Latin for the day. I was walking with one of my classmates and he saw the chalk written line on the wall and started to laugh. He told me that the other piece of Oxford graffiti he had seen once was "capitalism is boring." Even the graffiti of Oxford is intelligent.

Radcliffe Camera

Today was great, I went to class and studied in the Radcliffe Camera in between classes. I haven't taken a picture yet but don't worry, I will. Let me describe it for a moment. I walk down Broad Street, past Exeter College (where J.R.R. Tolkien studied as an undergraduate), to a small curved door in the wall surrounding the Sheldonian. I curve around some walls and through a couple doors, over graveled courtyards and stone walks, through the middle of a courtyard with souring walls and carved statues and gargoyles. It catches my breath every time I walk in there. The courtyard has several entrances for tourists and scholars into the Bodlien Library, the main library for Oxford University. Through another tunnel I emerge into sunlight (sometimes) and I see dark, soft green grass surrounding a building that brings to mind thoughts of ancient scholarship and beauty. I'm being a little romantic but this place is just wonderful.

St. Giles Cemetery

The Norrington Room

Ok so after class I went walking again, I went down to this AMAZING bookstore called Blackwell. It has a place called the Norrington Room that claims to have three miles of bookshelves and the longest bookshelf in England. Its wonderful. This is one picture of it that gives a hint of the glorious number of books there.

So I spent some time there and finally wound up sauntering my way back up St. Giles street to the old cemetery five minutes from my room. Its just outside of St. Giles church and the Old Parsonage Hotel. (I am hoping to have high tea there at some point.)

Well now I am back in my room and I need to finish my homework. Thanks for listening to my ramblings and romantic phrases. I'll catch you soon.