We headed into the centre of Oxford today for a look.
We caught an open top bus. It is definitely the best way to get your bearings in a new place.
Our aim today was to visit the Bodleian, the covered market & hopefully somewhere else.
As we were heading for the library, we could hear bells tinkling - we looked up & there was a Harrier Hawk wearing 'jesses' just like we had seen at the Birds of Prey Centre.
Her handler was there too. Apparently she is encouraged to scare off the pigeons.
I remember visiting a church in Vienna - St Stephens - where they also had resident hawks to keep the pigeons away from the building. It is more effective than poison or other methods apparently.
We got to the Bodleian, but all the tours were booked out. So we have booked our tickets for Friday.
Here are some pictures of the courtyard.
NCH said I should have stood in front of the Logic Dept. Ha Ha!
We meandered through the courtyards to the Weston Library. There was a great exhibition of 'Treasures of the Bodleian'.
Here is the original manuscript of the Messiah
Next door was a fantastic Jane Austen exhibition to celebrate the 200th year of her death.
There were original manuscripts of hers. The first she wrote at the age of 11 until her unfinished novel 'Sanditon'.
Here is a first edition of 'Persuasion' with a 'Navy list' as mentioned in the book when the Musgrove girls are looking for Captain Wentworths first ship.
Jane Austen's writing desk & some manuscript & a letter.
There was also a great video display showing the BBC's productions of Jane Austen novels.
The relationship began with a production of Pride & Prejudice on the radio in 1926.
The first production I remember seeing was one from 1980 - 'Pride & Prejudice'.
I think the only one I have not liked was the production of 'Mansfield Park' from the 1980's. The woman playing 'Fanny' was almost hysterical at times.
The latest productions have been the best I think. 1995 'Pride & Prejudice' was the beginning of the new wave. The acting has become more natural & less stilted.
Then we tramped off to the Ashmolean Museum of Art.
It houses a vast collection of art & historical artefacts from pre-history through all cultures.
I loved it. It has a great collection of fabric & textiles. Coptic Egyptian fabrics & embroidery, Byzantine pieces etc. Fabulous!
Here are some examples.
These were carbon dated between 1100 - 1450 AD. It is amazing that there is still so much colour.
Both of these pieces were carbon dated at 400-600AD.
This is a winged god from Nineveh. This image was an influence on C.S.Lewis' idea of the character 'Tash' in 'The Horse & His Boy' & 'The Last Battle'.
Ancient history is definitely my thing
I was really pleased to see a few pieces I have only ever seen in books. Like this one. A Minoan larnax.
We stayed in the Museum until it closed - did some shopping & then caught the bus home.
Tomorrow we are driving to Cambridge to visit my friend who left Australia to study 29 years ago. She has been here ever since.
Check out the Ashmolean collection online.
