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Prince Pierre Arrives
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| Host: Luke Reynolds (OXFORD UNIVERSITY) Links: |
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After a short rest from his 8 hour flight, the Prince sets out for the Oxford countryside. He thought he found a Frog Measuring Stick, but it was used to measure the flood level of the Thames River (pronounced "Tems"). They get a lot of rain here in England.
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The journey into the center of Oxford found Pierre at the White House...Hhhhmmm, thought that's where the President lived. Here in Oxford it's a fine eating establishment
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The Thames Path folows the river from its source in the Cotswold Hills, just outside of Oxford, and stops short of the river's outpouring into the lower North Sea, between England and Denmark. Pierre saw some fellow frogs plus ducks, rabbits and swan along the path.
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The Prince visited the Ashmolean Museum famous for its extensive collection of Roman statues from the 1st through the f5th centuries (2000 years ago!). The museum is also the home of of the Alfred Jewel, a precious jewel made of gold and crystal with a small picture of Christ. It belonged to King Alfred of England in 899 AD. He is said to have brought both order and Christianity to England. Pierre also enjoyed talking to these three ladies. The one in the middle came all the way from France to visit Oxford...........
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Pierre stopped for a while to stand in awe of a monument on Woodstock Road. It's called The Martyrs Memorial and the Prince was dwarfed by its size.
The memorial commemorates three bishops who were killed because of their Protestant faith . . . |
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Prince Pierre wanted to see what Oxford is most famous for...colleges. He went to the St. Cross College, built in the 15th century. If you look VERY close you can see Pierre sitting beside one of the arches.....
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He wasn't satisfied just to see one of the colleges; he wanted to experience it. So he went into the old Pusey House Library where he studied a book on the lives of the saints. He also was amazed at the architecture of the old building. It is so quiet in there, you can hear someone sniffle from the other end of the library!
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HRH went to Broad Street where there are a number of famous buildings. While talking to a few of the locals he learned that Balliol College (above) was founded in the 13th century (almost 800 years ago!)
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Broad Street is also decorated with many little college shops. Here, Pierre receives an Oxford University Pin. The gentleman behind the counter was very interested in Pierre's Grand Tour and he was proud to have royalty in his shop. (Queen Elizabeth had not yet stopped by.)
You can see the pin by scrolling over the clerk's right hand.... |
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Pierre takes a break near
St. Mary's Church. |
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Pierre's next stop was at the Sheldonian Theatre. It's Oxford's most famous gathering place. Here, important lectures, presentations, concerts and ceremonies take place.
Handle's famous work "The Messiah" was first performed here. Pierre thought the the head on the statue was trying to sing . . . |
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Pierre took a walk down a small path and came to the Bodleian Library, Oxford's most prominent library. Here, you must have a special pass just to get in. Pierre, of course, had no difficulty. He found out that you can't just go and get a book off the shelves yourself. You must ask a special staff member and they go and retrieve the book for you. (The Captain always gets Pierre's book for him.) They do this because some of the books are 1000 years old!
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Radcliff Square is a collection of three buildings, Bodleian, Radcliffe and Sheldonian.
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Pierre gets on a bike in front of the Radcliffe Building. 20,000 students use cycles as their main form of transportation.
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When night falls in Oxford, most people make their way to one of the many pubs. A pub is a mixture of restaurant and bar, and people go there to stay a while and talk a lot. Here, Pierre sits with a local at the Eagle + Child Pub. This is a well know pub in Oxford because years ago, when C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were both professors at Oxford, they often came here with other authors to talk and create story ideas. The group of authors was know as The Inklings. (Sounds like an old rock group.)
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Prince Pierre ended his royal day of traveling through Oxford, England with a visit to St. Aloysius Church, where the famous poet Hopkins was a priest, and Tolkien attended. Pierre slept very well that night. He knew he would need the rest for his next long trip.
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HRH Prince Pierre de la Ponde will have many fond memories of Oxford University thanks to his good friend, Luke Reynolds of Windsor, CT.
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| I wonder where the Prince will be off to next? |
Looks like....Australia!
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Inside the museum, Prince Pierre got really close to examine this piece of art entitled "Dancing Gnasha" from Africa. Made him want to do a little jig himself.
