Potterland.

Sunday 7 November 2010
I love how this semester is basically one giant impulse decision. Christine and I decided on Saturday night that we were going to go to Oxford for the day on Sunday. We booked rail tickets and EARLY the next morning we hopped on a train. About two and a half hour laters we arrived in Oxford, England. The city is gorgeous, absolutely stunning. As always, I didn't really know what to expect. It really is a city built around the university. The university is set up differently than most American schools. The university has about 20 different colleges and students live, eat, go to class in one of the colleges. Each college has a different set of core curriculum that every student has to take, so you can decide which college you enroll in based on their criteria. For example one is something like 'independet spirit' and another is related to 'leadership.' Collectively, all the colleges are all called Oxford University.

Christine's friend from home, Andy, is doing his junior year abroad at Oxford so we hooked up with him and he showed us the town. It was mostly a walking tour of the city and we hit up some of the ever popular locations from Harry Potter films.

Leaves on the side of the building below.

The main Oxford University library - The Bodleian Library

The Union - one of the world's most prestigious scholarly debating organizations. You have to be a member to get inside, so I snapped a picture through the fence and trees. You pay a one time fee and you a member for life and you can attend debates and speakers. It's not just for Oxford Univesity students; anyone can join.There is an indoor facility too, you just can't see it from this photo.

This part is connected in the back of the library. It forms a big open square in the middle.

Since Christine's friend has a student ID, we got to actually go inside. This the entry way and this is where a scene from Harry Potter was filmed. In the film, it's the infirmary.

Neccessary photo at one of the colleges.

This is the college, Christchurch College. where many scenes in Harry Potter were filmed. It would have helped if I had even seen one complete movie before going to Oxford. Oh well.

Walkway back to the entrance to the College

Christchurch College

We used Andy's ID and got in for free instead of paying the four pound entry fee. Win.

Inside Christchurch College

Christine and I at Christchurch College

I love the grand archways!

Harry Potter dining hall. Apparently in the movie, there aren't pictures on the walls. This is an actual dining hall where actual Oxford students eat. I could definitely get used to eating here....Next semester, I'll studying at Oxford?? Joke time.

I loved walking through the city. It was gorgeous on every street. It was nice to have Andy as our own personal tour guide because he knew all the spots we needed to see.