The United Buddy Bears were, like us, visiting Vienna. Each bear had been painted by an artist in one of the UN’s 192 member states and represented something of their origin: a rather dull wildlife and savannah motif covered South Africa’s bear, a pie eyed and lustful bear represented the Netherlands. Come to promote “tolerance and international understanding,” they were sold at auction in aid of UNICEF, the UN’s Children’s Fund. By November, €1 315 000 had been raised.
Beginnings: Oxford
An almost missed bus drew the two of us into Oxford, bleary eyed and recovering from my birthday, celebrated over the previous two days. I’d briefly visited this most famous university town once before, in midwinter last year. I remember being very cold, promising to return, and very little else.
We quickly procured caffeine and, after finding the way to our “Funky” Hostel, checking in and depositing our packs, the wander around Oxford began.
The city centre, old Oxford, is small and easy to navigate. It’s constrained by two rivers, the Thames to the west (called the Isis while it meanders past Oxford) and the Cherwell to the east. A map is available here. The original settlement was established because the Thames could be forded here, so that oxen could cross. Hence Ox-Ford. Continue reading Beginnings: Oxford>>
Early Writing: Oxford
I found myself sitting in ‘Oxford’s Oldest Coffee Shop’ clasping a mug of strong coffee closely. The rather nasal voice of a flustered young student, about 20, resonated between my ears as she elaborated on the lack of reading she had done for a certain course to two companions. They nodded intermittently, blank looks on their faces. The caffeine’s effect slowly began to awaken my slumbering brain, the girl’s metal chair legs grated against the floor, she leapt up and hastily shouldered her way though the glass doors, half a dozen books balanced against her chest. “Whether I’ll actually be at the lecture later remains to be seeeen…” Monday morning in Oxford.
We walked beyond many of Oxford University’s colleges to Magdalen, one of the wealthiest, which has extensive grounds including a deer park along the river Cherwell. It is an ancient establishment set upon rugged, yet tranquilly green surroundings, dating back to the 15th century. The stone from which the buildings are built is common to much of the old architecture in the city – centuries have turned it beige with shades of darkened and rich colour that evoke a sense of weather-beaten and enduring grandeur. I found these aged exteriors with their smoky chiaroscuro strikingly attractive. ‘The Hall’, where Magdalen’s scholars are fed daily is an immaculate and well-organised room of dark wood panels, long tables and dim lamps, under which tomorrow’s ladies and gentlemen sup in sophistication. Continue reading Early Writing: Oxford>>
