Going medieval and oxonian

I've been keeping busy whilst waiting for my new job to start. Took myself off on a day trip to see Warwick Castle, incidentally on the coldest day of the month. The castle was indeed medieval and well preserved with towers and state rooms, a dungeon in the corner and beautiful gardens. I found the highlight to be the peacock garden, was tempted to take photos of the absurd faces people made to entice the peacocks to fan their tails. Here's a tip: bird noises and ga-ga faces don't work. I spent most of the day ducking into cafes and drinking copious amounts of hot tea lest my fingers and toes freeze off from the cold. It was so cold that day it snowed.

So I thought I would learn from that lesson, but I went to Oxford last Friday on another sunless day but luckily for me, Oxford doesn't need sunlight for me to appreciate it's beautiful architecture. The colleges were grand and old. I went on a working tour and was thrilled to be in New College (incidentally, not all that 'new') where they filmed some scenes of Harry Potter. The college and it's chapel were gorgeous. I managed to trespass into Merton College, quite by accident as one of the gates to the garden was open. I didn't realise I was trespassing until I crossed the garden and entered the college grounds and there was a huge sign there. I figured I made it that far...might as well check out the rest of the college =) It's not considered trespassing if you pay the entry fee...which I find quite cheeky, imagine paying to walk onto UNSW campus!

I spent quite a bit of time walking around town with my head craned up. There were some really bizarre gargoyles (or 'grotesques' for a better term as they are not used for drainage) on the buildings. In New College, the grotesques were actually caricatures of fellows of the college! Call me geeky but I really liked Oxford.

It's a long weekend this week! It doesn't make too much difference for me since the past few weeks can be termed one looong weekend for me...but I am heading to Cinque Terre in Italy over this 4 day weekend. I'm really looking forward to seeing the gorgeous Italian coast, hiking between the 5 villages and generally soaking up some mediterranean sun! After which, I shall again join the gainfully employed.