Reilly Britain

 Ah...I think we're in England. Walked to the main campus in a light rain with umbrella in hand. Stopped at the Weston library foyer and cafe before our 11: 00 walking tour of campuses and city. Under umbrellas and in rain coats we followed Juliet around the city and thru a couple of colleges. My pictures are of a variety spots and when I get home I'll label them accurately.  But for now just enjoy.  We did learn that Oxford University is made up of 43 "colleges". An applicant applies to Oxford University,  then if accepted applies for the college they're interested in. The various colleges aren't subject specific. You might choose one because of its history or a family member went there. Sixty percent of the undergrads are from the UK. Ninety percent of the grads (master and PhDs) are international. The university was initially male only and from only private secondary schools. But the rules have changed over the years (though one didn't go co-ed until 19...

 Another lovely breakfast at our B & B. Then our last major train ride to Oxford. A rather long round about walk to our little hotel. It's a delightful little place. A bit of a rest and then setting off to find where the various " colleges" were located.  We had a reservation for an evening tour of the Bodleian library so we had some time for discovery. A late lunch/early dinner and some picture taking. Then the tour. Amazing!!! Denise and I have watched all of the Inspector  Morse, Inspector Lewis and Endeavor BBC series which were set in Oxford.  We had an interest to see the university and parts of the city in person. The most photographed site, The Radcliffe Camera, which in Latin simply means a room, started the tour.  This was pretty impressive on its own, then we were introduced to the Bodleian, the main research library of Oxford. No readers or students so we didn't have to be quiet. Denise walking and standing in books 500 years old.  I liked t...

 Okay you decide. Trail on the top 2 pictures or the trail on the 3rd picture. We chose the path in the first 2 pictures. They were very nice cows. After our morning breakfast at our B and B, we went out to catch the local bus. While waiting we must have seen a dozen old cars (1930/1940s). Some kind of a car happening nearby??? We caught the bus in Wareham after a nice chat with a local guy at the bus station across the road and another conversation with a local couple at our stop. We got off at Durdle Door and hiked down to see the rock formation. Stopped at the little snack shack and had a soda while chatting with a local couple. Then hiked up a bit with the cows and down the other side east to Lulworth. The     downhill was challenging, but not nearly as hard as the uphill would have been. Once in Lulworth we stopped for fish & chips and a short hike out to see Lulworth cove. Met a couple from New York, who now live in the UK. He works for the Embassy as a liason o...

 Set out for a coffee and a pastry. Then on to visit the Roman Baths. The exhibit was amazing and informative. We really enjoyed the self paced tour. Dennis remembers his visit 51 years ago as simply looking over a banister rail at a green pool surrounded by sandstone blocks. Quite a bit more to see today. At the end of the tour we were given the opportunity to taste the healing spa water. 😵‍💫 We opted out. (think Lithia water in Ashland) Afterwards, another coffee and to rest our feet. Then we took off up the (gradual) hill to see "the Circus" and the Royal crescent.  Both are names given to housing developments of the 19th and 18th centuries respectively. Along the way we passed the Jane Austin museum and an acknowledgement to Mary Shelley (Frankenstein).  The Royal Crescent, which they started to build in 1767, is world renowned for its Georgian architecture. This was one of the reasons Bath was awarded the UNESCO heritage status. (Besides the Roman Baths) We were ho...

Spent the morning exploring the Cardiff Castle, which was down the street from our hotel. There was also a 10k run happening, so busy place. We had a wonderful & energetic guide. A young 27 yr old who had his masters in medieval and Welsh history. Tbe castle had its origins with the Romans (of course) from 55. But they gave up and were gone by 450 AD. It then went through times of languishing and various conquerers as Wales went through various wars and revolts. Then in 1776 Lord John Mountstuart married into the family and later become the first Marquess of Brute.  In 1865 the 3rd Marquess of Brute meets the architect William Burges. Over the next 16 years they transformed the castle into a neo Gothic dream palace.  This Marquess John Brute was the 3rd wealthiest man in the world from exporting coal out of Wales worldwide. Years later Jack Burges inherited the estate and owed a hefty inheritance tax. So instead of paying the tax, he decided to gift the castle to the city ...