Evensong in Oxford

We were very sad to say goodbye to our lovely B&B host, Suzanne, this morning, but we had  an early start to return our car to Eurocar in Oxford.

Finding a petrol station to fill up the car was challenging and so were the last few roundabouts, but we made it.

After we dropped our luggage off we visited Balliol College (where my favourite detective, Lord Peter Wimsey, was educated).

We walked down to the Botanic Gardens to fill in time until it was time to check into our accommodation at Rewley College.  There are lots of impressive old buildings  and lots of towers and spires, but most of the colleges are not open to visitors so we could only imagine what is hidden behind their high stone walls.  The Bridge of Sighs is a covered walkway  between two college buildings.

I liked this tree which was espaliered against another building.

June and I went our separate ways in the afternoon.  I visited the Ashmolean Museum (relics from Stone Age through to 19th century, from Europe and Asia). June walked down the canal, where there were canal boats,  and through the backstreets.  We met up at the Asmolean Cafe for afternoon tea and then sat in a small park until it was time to go to Evensong at Magdalen College chapel.

It was a beautiful old chapel and a beautiful service, sung in Latin by the choir; a peaceful way to spend our last evening here (though neither of us is religious).

The weather here was warm enough for everyone to be out enjoying the sunshine in the gardens; students were everywhere, on foot and on bicycle.  I gather we are coming home to rain.