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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