Fluid

Our last day in Oxford was just as sunny as all the rest, showing off the city in its best light. We spent the morning at the sung Eucharist service at the Magdelen College Chapel. I love the occasional high Anglican service, with all the bells and smells, and this one was great. The acoustics in the chapel were lovely, and although I'm not the greatest singer it was a wonderful space to sing along in. Erica and I spent the afternoon strolling around the city, before it was time to sneak into Christ Church College, examine the Hogwarts dining hall and a few other parts, then go off for a sunny picnic. Although I have lots of other photos I like far more, this one fits the theme of water the best of them all.

After that we all got dressed for formal dinner, went to Evensong and then on to dinner. Dinner was pretty fancy, with a fish fork and everything ;) But it made some literary references make so much more sense - the high table, everyone standing for entrance and exit of the fellows, multiple courses, long tables. It did feel like we had gone back a hundred years, but it was a fascinating experience.

Our final night was spent playing cards until not-too-late, before Erica and I went back to our hostel to pack and sleep. It was wonderful to be in Oxford, to spend lots of time with good friends, to see their lives there and meet their new friends. I'd been to the city before briefly, but felt like I got a proper look at it this time. I still think it would be weird to live in tourist-ville, where tourists may pop up almost anywhere at anytime and expect to stickybeak at everything. But it's a very pretty place, and we definitely had the perfect weather for it.