It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through this incredible journey! Time has flown by, and although each day has been packed and sometimes exhausting, the memories I’m making feel like they’ll last a lifetime.

Today’s adventure took us to the breathtaking Blenheim Palace, followed by an afternoon exploring Oxford. We had a bit of a rocky start—our group seems cursed regarding transportation! Due to a scheduling mix-up, we waited almost an hour for our bus. However, I cannot say I’m complaining because I had time for a quick catnap before we descended. I’m sure I missed a beautiful drive, but I had an amazing nap on the bus to catch up on all the lost sleep.

When we arrived at Blenheim Palace, I was utterly amazed. The estate is massive—over 20,000 acres—and I couldn’t believe it belonged to one family. The intricate architecture was absolutely stunning, and the landscaping was beautiful.

We toured the elegant state rooms, each with ornate furnishings, massive portraits, and incredible detail. The rooms were color-coordinated, much like the White House, and one picture of Winston Churchill, who was born there, looked just like the images from my history books.

After the interior tour, we ventured outside into the palace’s gardens, and they were absolutely stunning. We walked by the lake, coming across an old boat house. It looked majestic with the birds flying over the lake. We took plenty of photos in the gardens, capturing the beauty of the landscape and, of course, some fun shots near the gazebo.

Next, we headed to Oxford, where we had a more private tour with our incredible tour guide, Tim. He casually revealed that he’s been in Doctor Who and has portrayed Winston Churchill in several films!

We spent most of the time at New College, one of Oxford’s oldest and most picturesque colleges. The chapel, dining hall, and green courtyards were beautiful and peaceful. We did some sunbathing there before beginning a walking tour, which explored many different parts of Oxford and its unique structures. We even saw the location where they filmed some Harry Potter scenes, which was fantastic!

Oxford had a more bustling, lively vibe than I expected—it reminded me of Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh but with a distinctly English charm. We grabbed Shake Shack for lunch, which was funny and comforting in its familiarity. Later, we stopped at the cutest little café, where I had an iced matcha latte and the most delicious scones—warm, flaky, and just sweet enough.

With some free time, we went shopping for Oxford sweatshirts because how can you visit without getting one?

By the end of today, I was utterly exhausted, but quite happy with our excursion!