A Weekend of Contrasts

This weekend was a weekend of contrasts.


On Saturday, we decided to head over to Paddington Station (one of my favorites), and on to Oxford for the day.  The train ride took just under an hour, with stops at Slough (rhymes with "how") and Reading (rhymes with "bedding"), and travels through fields filled with a changing array of livestock (horses, sheep) and crops (especially brilliant yellow mustard). 

By Lisa, Oxfordshire Fields. Aquarelle on paper, 19 May 2012

Although we'd visited Cambridge a couple of weeks ago, we didn't know what to expect in Oxford, aside from a few vague impressions, garnered from recent films (Harry Potter, to name one) and PBS broadcasts of the Inspector Morse series, the narrative of which is based in Oxford.  Given this, we were open to learning more.

Exiting the Oxford train station, our first impression was similar to that of Cambridge:  it was a short walk to the city center, and there were of plenty of people and means on offer to get there.  We chose to walk, since it was a short distance; though someone with need of a taxi or bus would surely have found these in abundance, as well.  There were also people hawking tours, which didn't interest us.  We were there to take in the atmosphere, not a lot of data. 

You can do both, though, by just meandering around the city. This is what we did, and we found nearly all the "famous landmarks" listed on maps provided throughout the city. And, as it was a commencement weekend, we enjoyed the added bonus of seeing many happy graduates and their families, dressed up either in their robes or party best, beaming in celebration. Along the way, we saw many places that were simply a joy to see: lovers punting and rowing on the Isis (Thames) river, the Rhodes House gardens, quaint homes with flowers sprouting out of their roof crevices, beautifully kept spires, weather vanes and buildings that have withstood the ravages of time.  

Rhodes House gardens

Some of Oxford's many spires

Here are a few images that will give an impression of what Oxford has to offer.  They were taken on our one day there, so they cannot completely convey the beauty of the city.  Rather, they are meant to whet the appetite!

A rooftop garden

Rowing on the river Isis

A don, hurrying home after commencement

The following day, we remained in London, and decided to walk the several miles from Rotherhithe to Brick Lane.  Located in the old Bishop's Gate area of the city, Brick Lane is home to the largest number of south Asian restaurants in the city, and yesterday the area also played host to a street festival.  After walking through the neighborhoods of Limehouse, Stepney, Whitechapel and Aldgate, we arrived to find Brick Lane filled with people and and unusally high number of bobbies, as well. 

What a contrast to the relatively quiet streets of Oxford! The energy, smells and lively atmosphere were a fun change. Here is some of what we saw and sampled along Brick Lane and in and around the Truman Brewery and the adjacent Boiler House.  Just the smells, alone are worth a visit!

Ethiopian Vegetarian/Vegan fare

Pedestrians along the way

Delicious Cuban Foods

Chinese offerings