This past month has felt like a whirlwind of new experience after new experience. I don’t think I could have predicted all the amazing opportunities I would have by making this journey. From seeing new places and learning old histories to making life long friendships. This trip has been a moment in my young life I will always remember fondly. This adventure has been a transformative experiance. Within this blog post I will try to surmise why this place means so much to me.
An Oxford Ordeal
There is so much I could say about Oxford alone; however, I will do my best not to ramble. The thing about Oxford is that there are aspects of the city that everyone can enjoy.
Do you like outdoor activities? You could go punting on the river or take a hike in the beautiful back country.
Are you a history nerd? You’ll love it here! There are buildings in Oxford dating back to the 13th century, which you can tour.
Do you love shopping? Well, you have plenty of amazing options throughout the city where you could find new or old treasures.
During my time at Oxford I have tried to soak up all the city has to offer and after living here for a month I would say my favorite places in Oxford are the Botanical Gardens and the Covered Market.
The Botanical Garden is the definition of a breath of fresh air. It is are a maze of beautiful flowers and plants all nestled by the river bend. Its the perfect place to take lunch to and sit in the shade – or bask in the sun – whatever you prefer. I myself wandered the Garden for a couple hours on this trip. There is so much to see in them and you don’t want to miss it. I will say it is a bit easy to get lost in the gardens, but honestly, its the best place to lose yourself.
The Covered Market on the other hand it incredibly lively. People are all around and there is a plethora of shops to choose from.
Are you hungry? Go to the Covered Market and get a sandwich and coffee.
Or you could get one of the most delicious cookies that will have ever graced your mouth and try Bens Cookies.
Are you looking to buy someone a gift? The Covered Market has you “covered” (see what I did there?).
I myself visited the Covered Market often with my friends and it was a lovey place to hang out in between classes.
Another thing I love about Oxford is how it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away from other places around the UK.
A Love Letter to London
I have a love letter for London floating around in my head. I have always dreamed about what London would be like and how I would like it. It exceeded all my expectations.
There is simply so much to do in London and if you are particularly interested in theater (which is a big interest of mine– I’m a theater major) The West End is a fabulous place to go.
Another place to go would be the Globe Theater. I’m not even the biggest Shakespeare fan, but seeing Romeo and Juliet at the Globe was truly an inspirational experience. T
The actors on stage embodied their roles masterfully. One of the most amazing things I saw in London
Of course there are the tourist activities that are also wonderful to see. I would suggest to get an “I ♥️London” shirt and embrace your inner tourist.
The city is big and I definitely missed a couple things I would have loved to see.
However, the fact that I missed some things in London just makes me more motivated to come back one day.
Galway Girl For A Weekend
ust a quick plane ride west you can be in the beautiful country of Ireland.
Some friends and I went to visit Galway for a weekend.
Our short time in Galway was well spent. We walked the entire city in a day.
Went to a bunch of Pubs and experienced amazing live music on the streets and in the pubs.
I tired a Guinness for the first time. Unfortunately, I can’t say I actually like the drink but it felt appropriate to try in Ireland.
Galway reminds me of Newport in many ways. It’s a lively city with so many things to do, but it’s also not overwhelming. There are places in Galway that I found very peaceful. Collecting sea glass on the beach was a highlight of my journey.
Before we got on our flight back to England, we wanted a last-minute adventure, so we took an hour and a half bus from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher on the coast, and they were absolutely stunning.
A Farewell But Far From a Goodbye
During my time here in the UK and Ireland, I just barely cracked the surface. However, I do believe I have optimized my time here in Oxford and the surrounding areas. I have few regrets, and every experience has been an incredible blessing. This experience has just made me more motivated to travel and experience other cultures. The world is wide and has so much to offer, and my time here has opened my mind up to experiencing things out of my comfort zone.
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