Wednesday, June 22, 2016

The Ireland-UK Trip: England Day 3 - Oxford and Bristol

Another travel day, driving over to Bristol, England via a quick trip to the city of Oxford where the university of some note is located.

We arrived and found a park+ride, per the recommendation of Gary France, to leave the rental car there and take the bus into the city center.

Bottom line, traffic was a mess into and out of the city.  The place was swarming with school tour groups and the usual busloads of tourists and their damn selfie sticks.  I found the place overcrowded and annoying due to all this and couldn't wait to leave.

Still, Martha wanted to take a look at the Christ Church's great hall and Cathedral as parts of them had been used in the Harry Potter book series.

 The Great Hall in Christ Church, apparently the
inspiration for the main hall in Hogwart's Castle of Harry Potter's world




The adjoining Cathedral was actually rather impressive and less crowded with the omnipresent tour groups and passage blocking student tour groups.





Touring done, Martha and I escaped and evaded our way back to the correct bus stop and soon enough were back to the rental car.  We escaped the traffic turmoil that is Oxford and taking the M4 expressway, made our way to the city of Bristol a little over an hour later.

We had a late lunch at a Chinese restaurant near The Bristol Hotel.

Bristol seems much better at handling traffic so far, based on what I've seen.  The proof in the pudding will be tomorrow when I go to the HD dealer to pick up the rental Sportster motorcycle I've reserved.

10 comments:

Trobairitz said...

The stained glass windows are a wonder. So beautiful.

Unknown said...

Like it or not, Dom, one you straddle that Sportster, you become... A BIKER!

Enjoy the ride. ;-)

redlegsrides said...

They're definitely something to catch the eye and make one think...Trobairitz

redlegsrides said...

Ry Austin, nah, first I would have to renounce ATGATT, dress like a pirate, and only from one bar to another. ;)

SonjaM said...

Dom, this is to reassure you that riding a Sportster doesn't make you a pirate per say. That being said, a head rag and an eye-patch would certainly become you ;-)

SonjaM said...

BTW "The proof in the pudding..."? Are you getting britainized?

redlegsrides said...

No worries SonjaM, there's very little chance of me turning into a pirate any time soon. ;) As to proof in the pudding, I found out last night what Black and White pudding, which is served for breakfast in Ireland, is made of....urgh.

SonjaM said...

A similar kind of pudding does also exist in Germany, I believe it is called Blutwurst (blood sausage). And once again I am happy for my mostly vegan lifestyle.

Unknown said...

Dom, be sure to practice your "Yarrr!" (you know, pirate talk) just in case.

Sonja, when my dad was a young man he spent several years in Germany on two different occasions. He tells a story of trying blutwurst a few days in on his first trip there. He said that he liked it and was told afterward just what he'd eaten... He never ate it again.

redlegsrides said...

Ry Austin, my future as a piratey rider, is definitely not going to happen....