A Week in Pictures Part 5: Oxford and Stratford-Upon-Avon

Friday of last week was a day I had been looking forward to for awhile. The program had planned a trip to one of the most academic and intellectual cities in Europe and to the birthplace of the greatest man in theatre history. Um, can anyone say right up Ashleigh's alley? So I'm a bit of a nerd. Anyway, the trip was amazing and I would love to share it with you.

We hopped on the bus at 8 a.m. to drive out of the city and into the countryside. It was really interesting to actually drive through London because I'd never seen the freeway system, etc. It took about an hour and a half or so to get to Oxford, but it was actually quite interesting because we had a tour guide who talked the whole time about EVERYTHING.

First thing we see after getting off the bus: Randolph Hotel.


A monument! Exciting!


The university is really amazing. It is 100% integrated into the town! It is scattered all the way throughout it. This is the Oxford building for graduations and other prestigious ceremonies.


Another Oxford building.


And of course, no trip would be complete without following Josh down some crazy alley way to...


the Turf Tavern. What an amazing little place. I bet you didn't know that a bajillion famous have been here, including Bill Clinton.


The bridge of Oxford, modelled after the Bridge of Sighs in Venice where prisoners walked from the court building of their trial to the prison (and which I've been twice!)


So much detail.


A statue to King James I, showcasing the different architectural orders of columns in the silent courtyard.


Wide open fields in Oxford.


Part of the Christ Church College buildings of Oxford. They filmed part of the Harry Potter movies here! Oh yeah, and it's an amazing piece of history and an incredible work of architecture, but who really cares about that? :)


A tree in the courtyard.


The steps of Hogwarts, er, Christ Church.


The Great Hall! But no Sorting Hat.



I'm just assuming this is the Gryffindor table.


Practicing my wand flick on the steps of Hogwarts.


Leaving Oxford and off to Stratford-Upon-Avon...

Self-explanatory?


Shakespeare and Anne Hathway fell in love here!


It's like a Thomas Kinkade painting. Actually, it's exactly like one.


The gardens were beautiful.


A little path...


We headed over to the main street of Stratford...

A quote on a statue of the Fool from Shakespeare's plays.


Oh hey, Shakespeare. Nice birthplace.


The house of a genius. :)


William, the ladies are calling.


A monument to Shakespeare! The statue is surrounded by smaller statues of four of his most famous characters.


Me and Falstaff: Two peas in a pod.


Hamlet, deep in contemplation.


Prince Hamlet, with the Shakes behind him.


Lady Macbeth. Out damned spot!


Then it was back to London! Natalie and I went out that night for a little while, but we didn't make it long. We were so tired we decided that our beds were a much better place for us. Time to dream of join the elite at Oxford and spending a life performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company...