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Another cloiter, plainer than before
But when I look, there is more
Peering through the window
Peering back I see
Stone creatures intently looking
Watching, talking, guarding
The majestic lion
Quietly ponders the courtyard green
White and pink flowers interwined with ivy
Towards two cherubs almost talking lively
A single sign in the doorway I see
These creatres guard the grass from you and me
** for all the forbidden grass in Oxford, and all those who long to tread it underfoot.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
South Parks
O ye spires of Oxford
That pierce the white heavens
O ye green hills
And ye high hedges
Thou doth cast thy spell
Of beauty on me
The wind turns chill
And the dark clouds roll in
Yet, I do not stir from my place
Beneath the low tree boughs
That pierce the white heavens
O ye green hills
And ye high hedges
Thou doth cast thy spell
Of beauty on me
The wind turns chill
And the dark clouds roll in
Yet, I do not stir from my place
Beneath the low tree boughs
Chapter 8: Windsor and Henry V
I have fallen behind on my blog entries. As you can imagine, it is like midterm week right now. I am frantically trying to both work and sightsee.
Yesterday, I took the train to Windsor. It is a quick train ride. There I toured Windsor Castle. I was in awe of its unparalleled grandeur. The castle is everything a castle should be, with its tall imposing walls, sleeping beauty windows, and perpendicular gothic architecture.
On the grounds is St. George's Church. Besides the breathtaking beauty of the church, here lies the Queen's parents and grandparents.
The next attraction is the doll house. The doll house is a large square. The facade lifts up to reveal the rooms. The rooms are lit with electric lights and the house has a working plumbing system. Artists painstakingly replicated furniture, paintings, and more to create this intricate miniature mansion. The attention to detail is remarkable, even the plates on the dining room table are made out of silver. This house was not made for children, but for Queen Mary who loved minatures.
The art gallery was also impressive. It housed several sketches by daVinci inlcuding one entitled the Deluge. It is a personal sketch that masterfully depicts the chaos of a storm. The gallery also includes works by Hans Holbein the Younger and the great wax seal of King Henry VIII.
Next I entered the state rooms, via the grand staircase. There were over twenty rooms all lavishly decorated. Most have been restored to a close resemblance of what they would have looked like under the reign of Charles II. A thick catalog of the gold, furniture, and armor housed in these rooms would not do it justice. To name a few, there is the armor of King Henry VIII, a painting of Elizabeth I that mimics the judgement of Paris, and the blue throne room. One of my favorite rooms was St. George's Hall. This long, bright hall with its tall draped windows was straight out of Disney's Cinderella.
After touring the staterooms, I caught the train back to Oxford. A quick dinner and I walked to Trinity College to watch an outdoor play, Henry V. It was excellent. The actors consistantly stayed in character, allowing the illusion of reality to let the set and audience fade away. I was quite impressed and enjoyed the play to its very last word.
Yesterday, I took the train to Windsor. It is a quick train ride. There I toured Windsor Castle. I was in awe of its unparalleled grandeur. The castle is everything a castle should be, with its tall imposing walls, sleeping beauty windows, and perpendicular gothic architecture.
On the grounds is St. George's Church. Besides the breathtaking beauty of the church, here lies the Queen's parents and grandparents.
The next attraction is the doll house. The doll house is a large square. The facade lifts up to reveal the rooms. The rooms are lit with electric lights and the house has a working plumbing system. Artists painstakingly replicated furniture, paintings, and more to create this intricate miniature mansion. The attention to detail is remarkable, even the plates on the dining room table are made out of silver. This house was not made for children, but for Queen Mary who loved minatures.
The art gallery was also impressive. It housed several sketches by daVinci inlcuding one entitled the Deluge. It is a personal sketch that masterfully depicts the chaos of a storm. The gallery also includes works by Hans Holbein the Younger and the great wax seal of King Henry VIII.
Next I entered the state rooms, via the grand staircase. There were over twenty rooms all lavishly decorated. Most have been restored to a close resemblance of what they would have looked like under the reign of Charles II. A thick catalog of the gold, furniture, and armor housed in these rooms would not do it justice. To name a few, there is the armor of King Henry VIII, a painting of Elizabeth I that mimics the judgement of Paris, and the blue throne room. One of my favorite rooms was St. George's Hall. This long, bright hall with its tall draped windows was straight out of Disney's Cinderella.
After touring the staterooms, I caught the train back to Oxford. A quick dinner and I walked to Trinity College to watch an outdoor play, Henry V. It was excellent. The actors consistantly stayed in character, allowing the illusion of reality to let the set and audience fade away. I was quite impressed and enjoyed the play to its very last word.
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