Two Weekends in Oxford and Oxfordshire

Last weekend, we spent our time exploring our home city of Oxford. On Saturday, we rode the red double-decked bus to city centre. Our first stop was the University of Oxford Ashmoleon Museum of Art and Archaeology. We had read online that the museum has the lantern of Guy Fawkes on display. The lantern was our first stop. In a previous blog, I described the recently celebrated Guy Fawkes day. He was one of the conspirators who tried to blow up Parliament and King James I in 1606.

Fawkes was carrying this lantern when he was caught with the gun powder under Parliament in 1606.

Another permanent exhibit has coins from every corner of the world and from every era.  Matthew and I played an old English penny game. Matthew was able to handle some ancient coins and even a gold coin with a picture of Queen Victoria at a table staffed by pleasant and informative volunteers.

Matthew likes coins. His favorite was a gold coin with a picture of Queen Victoria on it.

The museum currently has a temporary exhibit featuring Egyptian artifacts, including mummies and sarcophaguses. One sarcophagus held the body of a child. A 3D CT scan was displayed next to the sarcophagus so we could see both the inside and the outside. Volunteers helped Matthew build a paper sarcophagus. We stopped into the education centre where Matthew made an Egyptian hat.

Matthew making a paper sarcophagus.

Walking like an Egyptian...

The museum is next to Debenham's so we made a shopping stop. Lori picked up a cross-body purse for our Christmas trip to Paris and I bought a belt for my suit. (I didn't think that I would need a suit and tie when we left Wisconsin.)

After church on Sunday, we erected our tree. It didn't take long as it is pre-decorated and just the right size for our apartment living room. Lori made some finger food which made our first U.K. decorating party very much like home. Everything here is the same; just smaller.

This Friday, we made the bus trip to city centre for the Christmas light parade and ceremony with our American neighbors, Troy, Alyssa and their boys. The St. Giles area was blocked to traffic; rides and bandstands were erected on the street. There were so many people at the intersection of Magdalene and Broad Streets that no one could move. We were all in a literal gridlock of people; shoulder to shoulder, front and back. We saw the tops of the parade lights as they went by. After the parade, we attempted to make our way to the Fire and Stone restaurant to make our 7 pm reservations. The crowd was pressing against each other so hard that someone easily could have been crushed. One man burst between Troy and Matthew, having a panic attack! Someone pushed open a barrier near us and we escaped the crowd by walking along the traffic of buses and taxis to safety.

The white objects are the lanterns of the parade.

During the parade BEFORE the crowd reached gridlock. Notice some room between us.

After dinner, we walked to the German Christmas market at the Oxford Castle. We arrived as some of the stands were closing but were still able to enjoy the decorations and look at all of the vendors wares displayed outside. I would like to visit again before Christmas and take the tour of the castle, too. On the way back to the bus, we stopped to watch some people (gypsies?) dance. The boys joined in too.

Saturday we set out for Witney to pick up our Christmas trip tickets from the travel agent. We also shopped at Lakeland, where we bought some pie tins so we can make traditional pies at home (think meat & vegetable pies). High Street was lined with vendors stands selling all sorts of products as potential gifts. Matthew and I bought leather shoulder bags to use in lieu of backpacks during our outings so we don't look so much like tourists.

Appleton was our next stop. Only 9 miles from home, a local farm, the Appleton Christmas Barn, sells trees and all sorts of decorations. Matthew tried to visit with the sheep, but, just like at Blenheim Palace, they ran away in panic when he approached.

The barn is in the background.

Welcome to Appleton!

Dinner was at a nice French restaurant back in Witney. The food was good and the experience good practice for our upcoming trip to Paris. Our waitress had difficulty understanding my accent. I learned to say "cafe" when I want coffee.

Cheers!