Graduation Dinner

Everyone celebrated the completion of our course work and the close of our trip by attending a very special graduation dinner. The food was delicious and the company couldn't have been better. What a superb two weeks this was with so much learning and so many wonderful people. Thanks to everyone involved with this trip for making it a great experience.


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The Tower of London

The Tower of London has protected, housed, imprisoned and been for many the last sight they saw on Earth. Today the Tower of London is an historic monument in central London, England on the north bank of the River Thames.


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The City of London

These photos were taken from the bus while on our way to the Tower of London.


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The Ashmolean Museum

The Ashmolean is one of the great museums in the world - and it can lay claim to be Britain's first official museum. Indeed, at the time of its founding, the term "museum" was unknown.



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The Sheldonian Theatre

The Sheldonian Theatre was erected in 1664-8 to a design by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) from funds donated by Gilbert Sheldon (1598-1677). In 1994 the Theatre was described by the European Commission as "one of the architectural jewels of Oxford". Its purpose was to provide an appropriate secular venue for the principal meetings and public ceremonies of the University, and this remains its purpose today.

Many of the photos in the slideshow were taken from the tower of the theatre. The view was spectacular and well worth the many narrow steps we had to take to get there.


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St. John's College

St John's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, and his heart is buried in the chapel. The college is reputed to be the wealthiest in Oxford. Most of the college buildings are organized around seven quadrangles that were built between the 15th century and the 20th century. The Front Quad is mainly the 15th-century buildings of the former St Bernard's monastery.


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37 Wellington Square

37 Wellington Square is one of the residential accommodations that Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education has to offer. It is located right across the street from Rewley House. The rooms are small but quaint, just right for students on the go. Notice the fan on the desk, as there is no air conditioning. This was not a problem during my visit, the nights cooled down rather nicely.


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Rewley House Lunch

The food at Rewley House has been fabulous. The professional staff is prompt, courteous, and friendly. Every meal is presented beautifully and a is real treat for our taste buds. There is a vegetarian option available and the choice of distilled or sparkling water in special Rewley House bottles is a welcome added feature.


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Day 8 - Oxford Colleges and Botanic Gardens

What a day! We saw some of the most beautiful and oldest gardens on earth, Rousham and Oxford University Botanical Garden. We also explored a couple of Oxford's finest colleges, Merton College and Magdalen College.


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Rousham, a wonderful, unspoilt and uncommercial garden designed by William Kent (1685-1748), which represents the first phase of the English Landscape style and remains close to Kent's original conception. It is located 12 miles from Oxford. This magnificent garden is closed to children under sixteen years of age and there are no gift shops or vendor located on the grounds.

University Botanic Garden, founded in 1621 by Hnry Danvers, Earl of Danby, as a physic garden specifically for the growing of hervs and plants for use in medicine and science, this is the oldes Botanic Garden in Britain.

Merton is one of the oldest colleges in Oxford. It was designed to be a highly exclusive institution, housing a small, privileged minority of mostly graduate fellows. The tower of Merton College Chapel dominates the view from Merton Street.

Magdalen College was founded in 1458 by William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England. Magdalen's Great Tower was strategically important in the defense of the city: the Tower was used as a vantage post and a supply of stones was kept ready to hurl down at the approaching enemy, although the city was never attacked.

Day 7 - Wales, Chepstow Castle & Tintern Abbey

Today we had a full day trip to South-East Wales. Mike Breakell was our wonderful guide. He shared his knowledge of the land's history, landscape, plants, and animals. It was a pleasure to spend the day with him. Mike kept the day fun with his jolly face and light-hearted humor.


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We made several worthy stops along our route. The first of which was Chepstow Castle. Chepstow, on its rock above the swirling waters of the River Wye, stands guard over a strategic crossing point into Wales. In a land of castles, Chepstow can rightly claim special status. Started not long after the Battle of Hastings (1066) by William fitz Osbern, a companion of William the Conqueror, it was a landmark in more ways than one. It was amongst the first of Britain's stone-built strongholds and is an intriguing mixture of different periods.

Abbey Mill was our next stop and is known as the "Wye Valley Centre". It is a complex of shops set around an old mill building in the middle of the stunning setting that is Tintern. This was the original mill site serving Tintern Abbey. We enjoyed a delicious lunch that included hot berry-apple pie. Needless to say, nobody left the least bit hungry and we were all very satisfied.

Situated in a wooded valley of the River Wye, Tintern Abbey inspired Wordsworth's famous "Lines," and a poem by a lesser known contemporary, Edmund Gardner. The abbey was founded in the twelfth century for Cistercian monks by the order of the Norman Lord of Chepstow, Walter de Clare. At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1536, Tintern was the richest abbey in Wales, something reflected in its majestic archways and elegant windows.

Day 6 - Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill Birthplace

Many of the Oxford travelers took a bus to Woodstock, home of magnificent Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough. This World Heritage Site houses the Blenheim tapestries a magnificent series, depicting the famous battles of the 1st Duke, Sir John Churchill, on whom the palace was bestowed as a gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation, following victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. The beauty and magnificence of the historic home set within its inspirational surroundings is like no other.


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Day 5 - Oxford College Gardens

Our discussion on the Oxford College gardens and their contribution to garden history in Europe included a walking trip to the beautiful gardens at Wadham College. We also peered through the gates of Trinity College to view the fine border garden along the front lawn.


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Princess Diana & The Spencer Estate

We had the opportunity to experience 500 years of history at Althorp, home of the Spencer Family. We explored the wonderful house, with its beautiful interiors and one of Europe’s finest private collections of furniture, pictures and ceramics. We strolled through the magnificent remodeled garden and took a moment to reflect by the peaceful Round Oval lake where Princess Diana is laid to rest. We were all touched by the award winning exhibition, Diana: A Celebration.


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Day 4 - Christ Church & The Bodleian Library

Everyone enjoyed a visit to Christ Church and the Bodleian Library, (15th - 17th century), with a break taken at "The Vaults' - The coffee shop of the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. We looked closely at the stained glass adorning the buildings, the Gothic architecture, and recognized the importance of chapels and libraries in Oxford.

Oxford, England Walking Tour - VIDEO

Michigan State University, Northwestern University, and University of Iowa travelers split into two groups for an orientation walking tour of Oxford. Our guide was Victoria Bentata. As you will see in the video, Victoria kept us moving right along as she shared her knowledge of the city. Some of the places we saw were the Ashmolean Museum, Martyrs' Memorial, the Saxon Tower, the Sheldonian Theatre, and the Radcliffe Camera. Everyone in the group enjoyed the tour and we were all appreciative of Victoria's time and expertise.

Day 3 - Stained Glass, Chapels, and Libraries

Today in class, Dr. Helena Chance lectured on adorning buildings: Stained glass in Oxford. At mid-morning we broke for a tea break and then resumed lecture. We discussed chapels and libraries in Oxford and their treasures. Tomorrow we will take a trip to the Bodleian Library and Christ Church.

During free time this afternoon, several of us walked down Cornmarket St. to Cowley Rd. and experienced the multi-culture area of town. We visited St. Hilda's College and watched students punting on River Cherwell. The weather was cool but comfortable for a walk. We found Alice's Shop, which was drawn by Sir Jon Tenniel as 'the Old Sheep Shop' in Through the Looking Glass. Directly opposite is a fine view of Christ Church College and the cathedral rising beyond the War Memorial Gardens.


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Day 2 - Gothic Architecture Walk

Today in my course, Oxford: the City as a Work of Art, instructed by Dr. Helena Chance, we learned how Gothic architecture reflects and shapes the power and prestige of the University. Our day included a twenty minute walk to Radcliffe Square and New College.

In the evening we attended a lecture by Chris Day: 'History of Oxford the University, Oxford the City and Kellogg College.' Chris's humor and interesting perspective gave this history lesson a bit of a kick.


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Day 1 - Courses of Study Begin

Each tour participant enrolls in one of five courses offered. Each course has its own field trips carefullly planned by the tutor to enhance the course curriculum and are available to those enrolled in the course. General group excursions are for the entire group of program participants.

An Oxford Walking Tour guided by Victoria Bentata and Lore Bond took place in the afternoon of day one.


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Oxford Arrival

We arrived in Oxford on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Upon arrival at London's Heathrow airport, Louise Cooley from Michigan State greeted us and we all boarded a charter bus and headed for Rewley House in Kellog College. The weather was gray and damp but it did not alter our excitement to begin our adventure in Oxford.


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