Back to the present moment. On Sunday, we took the London national trains to Oxford, England for the day. Not only is this quaint city of 150,000 Brits home to one of the most prestigious universities in the whole world, it is also a center of culture and scenery. It was nice to spend some time outside of the major city of London, and this was the first time during our 2 week voyage that was outside of a major metropolitan area.
After stopping for a quick lunch, I quickly realized that many of the people in Oxford, England, were not speaking...English. It was evident that many young students were spending time in the city/university to learn English as a second language. One thing about the UK that is interesting is the fact that many people walk around the streets speaking languages other than English. It is a testament to the diverse cultural backgrounds of British citizens.
After lunch, we did a walking tour of the city (self-guided, of course, to save a a few pounds). It was very interesting to see the scene landscapes and medieval architecture of the more than 40 halls and colleges that cover Oxford's "campus." At the end of our day in the country, we took a stroll through the massive Hyde Park in London. Beyond the gardens, lakes, and various monuments (including one to Princess Diana of Wales), we finally ended up at Buckingham Palace. Seeing this majestic palace was the perfect close to our London experience...and it was a great one! Today, we arrived in Dublin, Ireland, after just a few hours of sleep but without any major travel delays. We've already had a busy day in Dublin, and I will be sure to update on my adventures here in a post soon! CHEERS.
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