Day 2 - Oxford and the Cotswolds

Up with the birds for a walking tour of Oxford and the Cotswold. When I say walking... I mean some minor staggering around in mud and cobblestone with a good cones of underground, rail, and coach travel. Had a good time but completely ruined my shoes tromping through the fields. However there was a certain amount of glee watching 30+ grown adults try to tip toe through a muddy field slipping and sliding and then trying to de-muddify their shoes by dragging, pounding, and grinding on the villages pristine cricket pitch (sacrilege) all while trying to avoid the enthusiastic greetings of a pack of cocker spaniels. Ahh village life.

St John's Church - Burford

Coronation Chicken Sandwich - Warwick Hall Burford

The Cotswolds are beautiful. The village of Minster Lovel was idyllic and creepy (think artificially manicured and period perfect cottages owned by the super rich or Disneyland meets Stepford Wives). Bursford (and its coronation chicken sandwich - poached chicken bits in mild curry mayo) was quintessentially British. Loved St. John's church (Bursford). The local rector was inviting. Laughed at the crypt of the much hated local woman, which was both creepy and deeply satisfying. She was so hated that, after her death, they exorcized her spirit, bottled it, buried it under a bridge, and then spent the next hundred or so years making sure that the water of the river covering the bottle was sufficiently deep enough to ensure her spirit never escaped. While alive, she apparently enjoyed the sound of peasant being crushed to death beneath the wheels of her carriage. What a sweetheart.

Oxford was exactly like I pictured it in my dreams, except somehow in miniature. Its really weird to think so many influential people came out of, what feels like, such a small place (and space). The tour walked us through Trinity College, caught a glimpse of Balliol, the old Ashmolean, the new Ashmolean, Radcliffe Camera, bits of the Bodleian Library, etc. Too little time to explore. Would have loved to gone into the library.

Radcliffe Camera - Oxford

Trinity College - Oxford

Details:

• Places visited Burford, Minster Lovel, Oxford
• Paddington Station closed for servicing, re-routed via Marleybourne
• England is fucking cold. Not even below zero, yet still able to chill you to the bone. How's that possible.
• 20 car pile up on highway near Minster Lovel - one fatality. 
• Dinner at Lilly Tandoori (about 2 minutes walk from hotel). Vegi Thali. Disappointingly bland. 

Budget for the day:

1. 2.00 Housekeeping tip
2. 58.00 Walking tour of Oxford & Cotswolds (include train, underground, charter bus, entrance, and guide)
3. 2.00 St. John's Church donation box
4. 9.00 Lunch - Warwick Hall cafe - coronation chicken sandwich and tea
5. 5.00 Snack - Tea and scone at Oxford covered market
6. 3.00 Cough drops - Boots Oxford
7. 13.00 Dinner - Lilly Tandoori - Vegetarian Thali 

Day one - a cold, cold, cold journey

Against all odds I made it (to London).  New Westminster was a blizzard-ing winter wonderland. I ate dim sum (including shrimp) before a long international flight (admittedly not the best decision I have ever made given my low dietary tolerance for seafood). AND I survived a 10 hour flight (including delay) with a damned chest cold. I coughed, hacked, and spread my "gift".  I'm sure my fellow passengers aboard the cramped and full AC flight were delighted to arrive and part ways with my sorry ass.

So now down to the details: 

• Ibis Earl's Court
• Easy access by tube (Picadilly from Heathrow to Earl's Court) and then a 10-minute walk through a lovely residential neighbourhood
• Check-in was smooth
• Room is very North American in size and amenities. Huge by English standards)
• No fridge
• Free wi-fi
• Flat screen TV
• Coffee/Tea in-room
• Tub and shower combo. Tub is a good depth
• Really big (if scratchy) towels
• Within a two-minute walking distance from all of your necessities (i.e. grocery, off-license, electronics stores, banks, pubs, restaurants, etc.)
• Neighbourhood looks mainly Middle Eastern. 
• Masala Express - Dinner
• A hole in the wall of the best kind
• Truly volcanic lamb vindaloo (yummy)
• Cost was 9.50 including rice and a drink

Notes to self:

1. Cut rate International adaptors from Army and Navy did not work. Had to buy a replacement.

Budget for day:

• 21.00 - Oyster card with 15.00 credit
• 5.00 - universal adaptor replacement
• 10.00 - Masala Express dinner with tip
• 3.00 - oranges and tea
• 4.00 - water and crisps (Walker's Variety pack)
• total - 43.00