Sunday, 25 March 2012
Springtime Escape to Oxford!
I know its been a long long time since I have posted here but I figured I should update and spread my joy from having escaped to the countryside last weekend for a one night adventure. The weather fairy has decided to bring sunshine into the lives of the British thankfully because my complexion has never been so pale! For those of you who have not been quite up to date with my life. I have finished my Master's programme and have officially passed! I am working currently part time coordinating seminars on the art market. It is perfectly suited with the current weather conditions as I have some freedom to enjoy the sunshine, take long walks and most indulgently relaxing brunches. I am awaiting a new visa, as my student one has expired and I require further permission to remain in the country. It is being processed...and has been that way since mid-February. It is unlikely that I will receive it anytime soon. In all seriousness it looks like it may not arrive until mid-May. Therefore I have started to feel like a trapped mouse. Anxious of the future and restricted in my movements. It is unpleasant to say the least. It is not like I have anywhere to go at the moment though I did have some plans to go away when my family arrives for my graduation ceremony/birthday. However, since I do not have the freedom to leave the country it makes me antsy and I am desperate to escape. Thankfully I am not alone in this. My friend Nellie is in the same situation as are many of my fellow graduates who have decided to remain in the UK. Nellie and I however have become fast friends in our mutual fondness for all things art, food (especially eggs benedict)and drink... We hatched a plan to flee the suffocating city for some fresh country air. Our only goal was to visit some big country estate and see the riches of those (en)titled British folk. We received advice to visit Blenheim in Oxford and after a quick lookup on train tickets and hostel bookings on Monday we left Friday morning.
We arrived in Oxford to a warming sun at 10am and wereimmediately relaxed by the fresh clean simple air and friendliest people I have encountered in this part of the world. The bus driver with his enthusiastic "Where can I take you today?" harkens to my old life surrounded by Canadians. On arrival at Blenheim Palace the daffodils screamed welcome to paradise. The long walk up the driveway to the prodigious palace brought goosebumps and a sigh of happiness. This is exactly what we needed. All my tensions and worries drifted away as we were sucked into the grounds and the impeccably manicured gardens with wild-like terrain. (because let's face it these were inno way wild woods or natural lakes, not when you are dealing with this kind of money) After a quick tour of the state rooms and the bed where Winston Churchill was born....creepy you say...yup kind of...Nellie and I decided that if ever there were the opportunity we would snatch this house up in a second. The 'Untold Story tour' is unnecessary unless your bag is moving mannequins and holographic scenes like visiting Pirates of the Caribbean, except with some videoed actors and no boats.It's a bit awkward to say the least.
For lunch we dined on the veranda in front of the fountains with champagne and a fantastic tart.
Then we walked through the gardens, found more daffodils,
discovered the waterfall and meandered along the lake front before heading to the South Lawn to watch the pheasants and sheep grazing...I am pretty sure we both fell asleep under the afternoon sun for a bit. Next we ventured through the secret garden, before finding the small train to take a ride to the adventure grounds. We visited the butterfly gardens and completed the maze before close. Then as the sun was setting behind the hill we walked out the gates past the Grand Bridge. Blissful. We walked around some cottages in the town of Oxford before deciding to settle in for a pint in the dying sun at a local pub (the Woodstock Arms). Once it grew dark we settled by the fire to feast on house made Chicken Liver Pate, Venison Sausages and mash and a half fried Duck with scrumptious potatoes and stewed cabbage cranberry. (we shared plates in order to enjoy a selection). The friendliest service - that's right table service - I have ever had in a pub! Then back to Oxford for a low key night.
Saturday morning started out with the intention of visiting the Ashmolean Museum while the sun was warming up before enjoying some outdoor sightseeing. However, we first got distracted by stumbling upon the Chocolate Festival, so of course we tasted our way through that before attempting to share the largest doughnut I have ever seen. We arrived at the gorgeous newly remodeled museum to discover our hearts were just not in it. The temptation of the sun and the fact that we had switched off our brains post Untold Story tour made our exit swift but not without promising each other that the first sign of a rainy day we would jump back on the train and immerse ourselves in the world's first university museum. Out in the street we lapped up the sunshine by walking all over with all the other thousands of tourists. We climbed the Carfax tower for views of the spires and roofs of the colleges, then made our way to the Radcliffe Camera and the university grounds. We peeked in and out of churches and down back alleys to find college boys playing cricket in the streets and buildings older than Canada at every corner. We wandered upon the Literary Festival and grabbed ourselves a sampling of a gin and tonic before walking alongside the Christ Church Meadows down to the river to watch the rowers. Back in town we grabbed a quick burrito and at at the base of some hill. before deciding to find ourselves a pub terrace to relax in our last hour in the country. Then back to the train and back into the city all before 5pm. When I arrived at home I discovered the BBQ alight and a fresh burger waiting for me, compliments of my flatmate and his friends!!
Thank you sunshine!!
lots of love
Alyssa
We arrived in Oxford to a warming sun at 10am and wereimmediately relaxed by the fresh clean simple air and friendliest people I have encountered in this part of the world. The bus driver with his enthusiastic "Where can I take you today?" harkens to my old life surrounded by Canadians. On arrival at Blenheim Palace the daffodils screamed welcome to paradise. The long walk up the driveway to the prodigious palace brought goosebumps and a sigh of happiness. This is exactly what we needed. All my tensions and worries drifted away as we were sucked into the grounds and the impeccably manicured gardens with wild-like terrain. (because let's face it these were inno way wild woods or natural lakes, not when you are dealing with this kind of money) After a quick tour of the state rooms and the bed where Winston Churchill was born....creepy you say...yup kind of...Nellie and I decided that if ever there were the opportunity we would snatch this house up in a second. The 'Untold Story tour' is unnecessary unless your bag is moving mannequins and holographic scenes like visiting Pirates of the Caribbean, except with some videoed actors and no boats.It's a bit awkward to say the least.
For lunch we dined on the veranda in front of the fountains with champagne and a fantastic tart.
Then we walked through the gardens, found more daffodils,
discovered the waterfall and meandered along the lake front before heading to the South Lawn to watch the pheasants and sheep grazing...I am pretty sure we both fell asleep under the afternoon sun for a bit. Next we ventured through the secret garden, before finding the small train to take a ride to the adventure grounds. We visited the butterfly gardens and completed the maze before close. Then as the sun was setting behind the hill we walked out the gates past the Grand Bridge. Blissful. We walked around some cottages in the town of Oxford before deciding to settle in for a pint in the dying sun at a local pub (the Woodstock Arms). Once it grew dark we settled by the fire to feast on house made Chicken Liver Pate, Venison Sausages and mash and a half fried Duck with scrumptious potatoes and stewed cabbage cranberry. (we shared plates in order to enjoy a selection). The friendliest service - that's right table service - I have ever had in a pub! Then back to Oxford for a low key night.
Saturday morning started out with the intention of visiting the Ashmolean Museum while the sun was warming up before enjoying some outdoor sightseeing. However, we first got distracted by stumbling upon the Chocolate Festival, so of course we tasted our way through that before attempting to share the largest doughnut I have ever seen. We arrived at the gorgeous newly remodeled museum to discover our hearts were just not in it. The temptation of the sun and the fact that we had switched off our brains post Untold Story tour made our exit swift but not without promising each other that the first sign of a rainy day we would jump back on the train and immerse ourselves in the world's first university museum. Out in the street we lapped up the sunshine by walking all over with all the other thousands of tourists. We climbed the Carfax tower for views of the spires and roofs of the colleges, then made our way to the Radcliffe Camera and the university grounds. We peeked in and out of churches and down back alleys to find college boys playing cricket in the streets and buildings older than Canada at every corner. We wandered upon the Literary Festival and grabbed ourselves a sampling of a gin and tonic before walking alongside the Christ Church Meadows down to the river to watch the rowers. Back in town we grabbed a quick burrito and at at the base of some hill. before deciding to find ourselves a pub terrace to relax in our last hour in the country. Then back to the train and back into the city all before 5pm. When I arrived at home I discovered the BBQ alight and a fresh burger waiting for me, compliments of my flatmate and his friends!!
Thank you sunshine!!
lots of love
Alyssa
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