Today we visit one of the most prestigious universities in the world and I couldn’t be more excited. Before getting on the coach I stopped at a Starbucks and got a crème brûlée iced coffee and it was so fresh and rejuvenating. I definitely drank it faster than I should’ve but it was too good to not keep sipping on it. I am thoroughly enjoying the differences in food and culture in the UK.
Driving through the rural grasslands I saw herds of sheep and dancing bright yellow flowers. I admire how much nature is preserved in the UK. The houses located around the palace all looked like adorable Snow White cottages with sublime churches and restaurants. It looks like a storybook setting.
Once we entered the long drive of Blenheim Palace I saw the lustrous architecture of the beautiful palace. We then walked through the gate and met with our tour guide from Stratford upon Avon. He is the best tour guide due to his articulate character and unmatched knowledge. He guided us through the rooms of the palace explaining the rich history behind the paintings and all the rooms. He even shared that he played Winston Churchill in movies before. Churchill’s birth place and several paintings is in the palace. Blenheim Palace is known as Britain’s greatest palace. After walking through the picturesque gardens surrounding the palace and seeing the majestic paintings and layout of the palace rooms, I understand and agree with this statement. We see Buckingham Palace on our last day so I will be looking forward to comparing the two.
Oxford has 39 autonomous colleges and was founded in the 1200s. It is wild to imagine how developed England was when the states were not even discovered yet by the Britains. The city of Oxford was bustling with people on bikes and walking through this historic city on a sunny day. The buildings were remarkable. I adored this city. We got time to explore for lunch and I found a cute tea shop where I got some things for my coffee and tea drinkers back home. In the tea shop they had tasting stations and elegant packaging of all the tea and coffee. The tea cups were so cute. Then, for lunch we walked around the open market and I found a small shop selling hand-made fresh paninis. I had a mozzarella and prosciutto panini with warm bread. It was hands down the best panini I have ever had. I hope to take my family to Oxford someday to see the magnificent sights and taste the delicious food and drinks. After my lovely lunch, I explored a souvenir shop and found an Oxford pink crewneck that I hope to share with my sister. We then all reconvened to explore the magical Oxford University. The buildings of this university are entirely indescribable. Walking through the cafeteria, the stained glass details and colors were incredible. I felt like I was in another world. The historical architecture combined with charming and intricate artwork was beyond amazing and nothing like I have ever experienced before.
I hope to take my family to Oxford one day to experience this extraterrestrial city. Tomorrow we present our findings to the faculty and students of Birmingham City University.