Oxford - Day 2 (29 Apr)

Great nights sleep last night and didn't have to blow my nose once. Sadly that all changed when I got up and started walking around!! 😷

Late and slow start today - washing completed and just fluffed around until we headed out about 10 to find the meeting point for our Oxford Walking tour at 11am - Martyr's Memorial.

Nice small group of 10 people, 4 x Canadian, 4 x Chinese and us. We visited a few of the places we saw yesterday and were provided with some interesting facts about Oxford. Here's some:

• it developed rapidly from 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris after an argument with Thomas Becket
• during the 13th century, rioting between town and gown (townspeople and students) hastened the establishment of primitive halls of residence
• less than a century later, Oxford had achieved eminence above every other seat of learning and won praises of popes and kings by virtue of it's curriculum, doctrine and privileges.
• between the 14th - 17th century there was religious and political controversy. For example, John Wyclif, a 14th century Master of Balliol, campaigned for a Bible in English, against the wishes of the papacy. In the 16th century, Henry VIII forced the University to accept his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and the Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were later tried for heresy and burnt at the stake in the city
• from 1878 academic halls were established for women, who were admitted as full members of the University from 1920. By 1986, all of Oxford's male colleges had changed their statutes to admit women and, since 2008, all colleges have admitted men and women

I also discovered 1st year students must stay 'on campus'. 2nd year onwards they move to halls of residence or rent a place together. Student tutorials are also mostly one-on-one with a Professor - not daunting at all!! 30+ prime ministers of the UK have studied at Oxford as did Bob Hawke, Bill Clinton and the list just goes on and on and on.

Here's a pic of a squirrel which Sue was able to capture:

Grabbed a crepe and smoothie for a late lunch before heading back to our airbnb to relax and watch the 2nd season of a BBC drama called Traces. If you haven't seen it, highly recommend. It's very clever.

Even easier day tomorrow - we have a picnic boat cruise at 5.30pm - which gives us plenty of time to jump on the bus and explore more of Oxford as we see fit.

Til next time.......