Oxford

I woke up very early to board my 7.30 am bus to Oxford from Parkside Bus Station. Fortunately for me, the ticket only costed me 4 pounds since I bought it online 2 months earlier. I dozed off in the bus as the bus swerved around the outskirts of London city, bypassing Milton Keys, before ending up in Oxfordshire.

The bus ended its journey in Gloucester Green Coach Station, and I started wandering in Oxford's town center, searching for my guesthouse. After making a few turns (over and over again), I let go a sigh of relief as I buzzed on the door bell of the guesthouse. Having dumped my luggage in the storage room as I could only check in after 3 pm, I started my journey into Oxford. 

Oxford somehow has its resemblance to Cambridge, only more classier and posher, I think, and is also swarmed with tourists. It is one of the world's most famous university towns, with 39 colleges and thousands of scholars occupying its grounds. I headed towards the most popular college - Christ Church College (which somehow wasn't that popular in Cambridge) and toured the Great Hall, where the movie Harry Potter got its inspiration from (it's the scene where the students gather for meals and where the sorting hat sings!) Somehow I dozed off in the tranquil halls Christ Church cathedral while resting my feet; I just could not help it! 

Next in line was the Magdalen College, another 20 minutes walk away from Christ Church College. This lovely college has an abundant collection of gargoyles and carved figures in its cloisters, as well as a deer park that inspired CS Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. The deers were however too shy, and chose to hide in the shady bushes away from the sun, and us. 

The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest public libraries in the world, but since I was short of time, I decided not to wait for its tour that allows access into the library. Just opposite of the library is the Radcliffe Camera, which is Oxford's most photographed buildings. I was too late for the extended tour and hence I just walked around this circular building before wandering off to the Ashmolean Museum. Alas, luck was not with me as the museum was closed for renovations. 

Oh well, since there was not much thing I could do, I headed off towards my guesthouse to check in, take a bath, and rest myself for the next day.