Oxford, Day 16: New College

The internet has been down at the dorm for over 24 hours--and still down--which is why I am posting a little late.

Yesterday was a typical rainy day in England, but there was plenty to be done. In the morning, my roommate and I went to Costa. I like to think of Costa as an in-between of Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. Although there are many locations, Costa's atmosphere invites customers to read and study in the lounge.

The Literature of Oxford class went on a tour of New College. We saw the chapel, the Cloisters, and the courtyard. Fun fact: Harry Potter's Goblet of Fire was filmed in the New College's cloisters. Afterwards, a friend and I stopped at The Turf for tea before heading home.

At the end of the day, my roommate and I stayed in the dorm and read Persuasion.

Massimo Green Tea and a Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin

Harry Potter pictures on set at New College

The Quad

Cloisters

Dining hall

  

Oxford, Day 12: Corpus Christi Day

Today was Corpus Christi Day, an important feasting day in the Catholic religion. A small group of students and the professor or the Literature of Oxford professor went to a special mass and procession at New College. Like every other church in town, it was over two centuries old and the architecture was perfectly preserved. A men's choir performed and lead the songs in the church and during the procession outside in the courtyard.

Honestly, I do not know exactly why the holiday is so significant, so here are excerpts from a BBC article for further explanation:

• The festival of Corpus Christi celebrates the Eucharist as the body of Christ. The name 'Corpus Christi' is Latin for 'the body of Christ'. 

• This jubilant festival is celebrated by Roman Catholics and other Christians to proclaim the truth of the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual body of Christ during Mass.    

• Corpus Christi is marked by a service originally devised by Thomas Aquinas. It includes five great hymns, including Panis Angelicus (part of a longer hymn called Sacris Solemniis, 'At this our solemn feast').

 Afterwards, we went to O'Neill's Irish Pub & Kitchen in Oxford's city center. I already had supper, so I bought my first ice cream in Oxford today--it was amazing.

New College

O'Neill's

Cookie and Chocolate Ice Cream