Travel Break: Paris and Munich

Here are the links to my photo albums from travel break.  I traveled with Torey Repetski, Mickey Jackson, and Clair Finnegan first to France and then to Munich for Oktoberfest.  Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150332754800275.361418.604720274&l=b7898112f5&type=1


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150339448450275.362799.604720274&l=4f6e5296f0&type=1


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150339541290275.362818.604720274&l=4f80a890a3&type=1

Punting!

A week or so ago, Brett, Brendan, Bruce and I decided to try "punting," a popular activity here in Oxford. Basically, someone stands on the back of the boat (which is called a "punt"), tries not to fall in, and drops a pole into the water, which he or she then uses to propel the punt along. Easier said than done!

Bruce prepping for punting

Bret braving it first

Warrior Bruce

Punting = Success

Open Doors 3: Christ Church and Ashmolean Museum

After climbing Carfax, we took a trip to Christ Church, hoping to visit the dining hall (which I had seen the day before).  Unfortunately, we couldn't tour for free and the lines were quite long, so we just took pictures outside:

Then we visited The Ashmolean Museum:

All in all, a very fun day.

Open Doors 2: Carfax Tower

Torey, Ashley, Mike, and I took advantage of Oxford's Open Doors by climbing Carfax Tower (located at the intersection of St. Aldate's and Queen Street).  The Tower is all that remains of St. Martin's Church, which was demolished in 1896 due to the widening of nearby roads.

<3

Open Doors: Christ Church

Last weekend was "Oxford Open Doors" - a weekend where most things are free and you can tour the different Colleges.  We began by exploring Christ Church, which incidentally is my college here.

Through the gates ...

Christ Church!

A glimpse of the corridors ...

5 points to Gryffindor if you can guess why this looks familiar!

You can bet that I will be eating here as much as possible once term starts.

Loving the portraits <3

Some Christ Church pride; also where you can go for a drink.

Clair, Molly, Mickey, Kevin, and me outside on one of the quads

Christ Church Cathedral

Another quad

Christ Church Library:

Where Mickey and I will be spending lots of time once term officially starts

A poem

I wish I were a poet

So I could hold my pen

Closer to my heart,

Where ink and blood might meet

And marry word and thought.

Life

A glimpse into life here at Oxford:

Every day, someone different plays music on the street corners.  Whoever gets there first has dibs for the day.  

Exhibit A: Mr. Whoodnote & Lil Rhys

Torey and I bought their CD, "Modus Operandi"

Coffee shop that gives discounts to students; they're located on the corner of Broad and New Inn Hall.  Great place to read!

Blackwell's: An enormous bookstore on Broad Street with a cafe on the first floor (free internet!).  Also happens to be where I spend most of my time.

Gloucester Green Market

Every Wednesday, they have fresh fruit and vegetables; every Thursdays, they have antiques.  Good stuff!

From left to right: Mike, Ashley, Clair, Mickey, Torey, Bret, and me

Mass with friends at "The Oratory" followed by dinner at a pub.

The Thames River, which runs close to my house

More to come!  

Cheers,

Kathryn