Oxford

Today has been another beautiful and sunny day.  The temperature started out at 43 degrees F and rose to 63 by afternoon, I think.  It was pretty perfect.  

My wonderful planner of a husband located the perfect parking space, and we walked into Oxford.  It wasn't long before we saw scores of students dressed like this:

We had arrived in Oxford on Matriculation Day, which is right before term starts, and is apparently a big celebration.  I'm sure it's a tradition we weren't aware of yet.

Because it was Matriculation Day, many of the colleges that would have been open were closed to visitors, but this was fine.  We've had so much on our schedule that we just take any changes in stride.  It all works out.  We were able to walk into St. Mary's Church, and I climbed to the very top of the bell tower.  Here is one view:

KJ found a memorial he liked.

I was admiring this pulpit and then found out John and Charles Wesley 

had both preached from it!  Actually, this one replaced the exact one they

preached from, but it looks the same.

We had lunch at The Eagle and Child.

But by far the highlight of the day was our visit to Lewis's home, which is owned by the American C.S. Lewis Foundation.  There was a very interesting story on how the home came to be owned by Americans, but I'll have to tell it later.  I am so very tired.  But the lady who gave a talk and showed us through the house was lovely, and I gained new insights into Lewis's character and really felt quite emotional throughout the whole experience.  We've seen so many wonderful places and gotten to stand in the spots where important historical events took place, and it is hard to take it all in at once.  

Lewis's Bedroom Window

The room where he is believed to have written

The Chronicles of Narnia

Looking out from the room where he died

His Last View

A bench beside his pond that he loved

He and Tolkien sat here and talked.

Of course there is so much more to share, but I simply must retire.  Tomorrow we are exploring Bath as well as a little village that has been used as a set for Cranford, Pride and Prejudice, and Harry Potter.  I must sleep.