Memories of yester-um-Thursday

I feel badly that I haven’t been more dutiful about recording the experiences I’ve had recently, particularly ones as notable as an excursion the Winchester, an historically important and currently adorable city. And so I will attempt to recount the highlights of last Thursday’s field trip lest any of you think I have spent too much time studying.

To be completely honest, one of my favorite parts of the day was the bus ride there. The English countryside entertained me for majority of the hour or so that it passed by, along with a recently added playlist of music on my iPod, and a rather pensive disposition. When we de-boarded I silently soaked in yet another charming English city. Each in its own way is enjoyably, but I have yet to completely fall in love with a place (though London is one of my favorites). Winchester, once the capital of the country, is a tourist friendly market town that you could happily spend a few days getting to know.

The first portion of the day involved touring Winchester cathedral, the longest of cathedrals in the UK I believe. I was (once again) astounded by the attention to detail that is paid in the construction and embellishment of these historic places of worship. To know that God has been worshiped in such places since the 7th century and still is today is quite a concept to wrap your mind around. One of my favorite features of Winchester was a large window that was designed in the medieval ages, destroyed during the Reformation movement and restored in a cubist type pattern (the original images couldn’t be reconstructed). I also fancied our visit to the crypt, which has been flooded for a good portion of its existence. The Winchester Bible, a beautifully illustrated manuscript whose decorative pages are housed in various locations, was another point of interest.

The most interesting thing I did in Winchester was the “roof tour.” My small group of 12 was led by a cathedral bell-ringer up over 200 very steep and narrow stone stairs until we reached the roof of the building. The perilous journey was worth the wonderful view (I’ll try to post some pictures). We all survived and have certificates to prove it. Story of interest: during the war there was a lookout posted in the upper portion of the cathedral (right above the vaulted ceiling). It is said that Hitler never bombed Winchester because he planned on being crowned in its cathedral.

After the tour came a picnic lunch and walk about the town, including many stories from junior dean Jonathan who spent his teenage years in the city’s boarding school. We spent a good hour exploring the ruins of Winchester Castle. What an amazing building that must have been! I can hardly believe that so much of it is still standing and that I am capable of filling the same space once trod by knights and ladies and royalty. Prior to our departure we saw Arthur’s Round Table on a wall in Winchester’s Great Hall (another area of historical significance for the Brits). Then it was back to Oxford to work on my essay (in other words to book tickets to Rome and go out for ice cream to celebrate at 11 pm).