Vera goes back home to Adelaide today.

Lovely breakfast with Sue this morning. Went into Reading city centre with her. Today was the compulsory annual road worthy check (MOT) for her car. This is common in Europe. It also occurs in Germany. All fine of course.

We took the cross country train to Oxford at 9:15am (£19 return for 2) arriving at 10:15am. On the way into the city we stopped at the open market and bought fruit and a cap for Ron. Next to the Tourist Information on Broad Street where we bought tickets for a 3 hr walking tour starting at 10:45am (£13 each). Our tour leader was John.

Alfred the Great fortified the settlement of Oxford in the 10th century on the rivers Cherwell and Isis (Thames). The University of Oxford was established in the late 12th century.

We learnt about the history of Oxford, famous literatures, the Inspector Morse, Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and Midsomer Murders sites, the towers with the best views and the best traditional pubs. We looked at the Turf Tavern, a very quaint and characterful establishment.

Oxford has 38 Colleges plus University and administrative buildings and extensive lands. It is claimed that you can walk from Oxford to Cambridge University without ever leaving college ground. Oxford has been a place of learning since 1096.

We viewed the church, dining hall and quadrangle of Christ Church (founded 1546), the spires of All Souls (founded 1438) and the Radcliffe Camera (reading room) (built 1737-49) part of the Bodleian Library and the historic Old Schools Quadrangle (1614-19) of Exeter (founded 1314) and the Divinity School (1420-88). The Bodleian Library was used in the Harry Potter movies and the entrance hall for the dance scene. All books printed in England must have a copy in Bodleian. Currently there are over 13 million books stored amongst 4 of the colleges (even the Mills and Boon novels!!). There is 368km of shelving in buildings belonging to the Library.

The Sheldonian Theatre is used to mark the start and end of studies for Oxford students and for ceremonies, concerts and lectures. It was built 1664-68 to the design of Christopher Wren's (also designed St Paul's Cathedral in London).
From here we viewed the Bridge of Sighs (Hertford Bridge) built 1913. It links the two quadrangle at Hertford College and resembles the Rialto Bridge in Venice.

Awe inspiring views can be seen from the spires of the University Church of St Mary of the Virgin, Carfax Tower, St Michael at the North Gate and the Sheldonian Cupola.

We went to the Covered Market (open since 1774) and bought pasties from the bakery and then coffee and cake from George Street Cafe.

Train back to Reading. Met Sue at work. Popped over to the Veno Pub across the road then off to the Reading University Pub for happy hour cocktails then to Cozze Italian Restaurant in Woodley for dinner. Back to Sue's for stimulating conversation and wine.