Oxford 9 July 2017

Less than a month to go now in this part of the country, so I'm trying to get to all the places I've wanted to get back to.

Today, Oxford. It was a bit of a mission though. There's lots of work happening on the railways, so it was car to Slough, train to Didcot Parkway, bus to Oxford - not really complaining though, mainly everything works and it's Sunday, so no rush.

Besides seeing Oxford in summer, I also wanted to see 'Raphael, the Drawings' exhibition at the Ashmolean. 120 works of art including Head of the Muse and Heads and Hands of two Apostles - my favourite. I'm in two minds about this kind of exhibition though. It's such a privilege to see the work and experience the genius, but it is so crowded (even though all the tickets are timed, so in theory the crowds are spread out), and the light is so dim that in fact you would probably see more in a beautiful book. What do you think?

I personally get much more from being in a beautiful space with time to wander and look and experience expertly curated works of art.

There was lots of people around but there is space to breathe.

Tea time...

Then out into the streets and the sunshine.

Heading down towards Christ Church Meadow

Past the river with the rather chaotic punting.

Heading towards the Botanic Gardens. This Physic Garden, set up in 1621, is the oldest in Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. This entrance is the Danby Gateway, built in 1633.

The garden is located on the banks of the Cherwell River at the north east corner of Christ Church Meadow, belonging to Magdalen College and covers 1.8 hectares. Part of the land had been a Jewish cemetery until the Jews were expelled from Oxford and all of England in 1290, not to return for 350 years. Everything changes and nothing changes. Sadly, this is the human condition.

The glasshouses lead you into different worlds - Conservatory, Alpine, Fernery, Tropical Lily House, Insectivorous, Palm and Arid. Fascinating.

Then the walled garden, I'm partial to walled gardens.

Blaukappe - Eryngium Planum - Sea Holly. Aren't they pretty? But the smell! I couldn't believe the smell - reminiscent of a cat litter box. How could this smell come from such a pretty plant? It was warm and humid in the garden today, which probably made it worse.The bees loved it!

I don't even know what this plant is called, but it didn't smell and isn't it pretty - quite jewel like.

Then the bells started up. This is the Magdalen Tower, built in 1492, it dominates the skyline as the tallest building in Oxford. It must have been bell practice time, it went on for at least an hour. Lovely initially, then deafening.