Back to Reality

 Hi everybody,

Just a quick note - we're back and our adventures are sadly over.

We're looking forward to meeting each of you in our lessons.

Radka and Adrien ✨

Legroom when you're sitting next to an emergency exit is great 👍 

Btw who knows what taxi in this context means?

Saturday, 16th November 2024, Oxford #2

Greetings, dear readers!

It is me, yours truly, back with another instalment of English adventures. This time, your favourite duo explores the parks around Oxford.

As we explored the historical part of Oxford the day before, this time we once again decided to take a walk along the local river and see what this city has to offer when it comes to nature and parks.

We weren't disappointed, as the walk was pleasant even though there were plenty of people out and about. Even this time, we were pleasantly surprised by the fauna of this place as we encountered a flock of sheep (isn't it interesting how the word "flock" is used even though it's usually reserved for birds?), a gaggle of geese, and even a fox along the way.

Another "fun fact" about me you might not know if you aren't one of my students is that I really like lexicology (the study of "words") and etymology (the study of how "words" evolved through time). With that also come collective nouns (words that basically mean "a group of something"). These words are no longer as popular as they once were but occasionally come back in waves. At first, they were used as "look at me, I'm rich" words, mostly for hunting. They are quite fascinating, so I shall share with you some of my favourites: a murder of crows, a wisdom of wombats, a bike of bees... (There are many more, but three is a magic number). Do you have any favourite English (or any other language, really) words? You can leave them in the comments below!

Our plan was to walk to Tolkien's bench, where we saw a statue of Gandalf sitting on it on Google Maps. To our huge disappointment, he was not present at the time of our arrival—probably too busy stealing Hobbits from the Shire to grace us with his presence. We continued on to explore the park, watching people play quidditch (that's what the game from Harry Potter is called, right? I've never seen the films nor have I read the books) and rugby.

When we got back to the city, we quickly realised it was a magnificent idea to escape to the parks, as graduation ceremonies were taking place all over the city and thus loads of people were out and about the streets.

Realising we had enough walking for the day and the sun was soon setting below the horizon, we bought our last two packets of digestives (a type of biscuit) and went back to our place to play god-level Tetris.

Aaaand that's all for this post! I hope you enjoyed reading these little tidbits and maybe even learned something new!

Yours truly,

Adrien ✨

Oxford

Friday,  15th November 2024

Ah, Oxford! The city where history oozes from every cobblestone and the air smells faintly of academia and... perhaps ale from a pub or two. Following a "narrated walking tour" video was supposed to be our guide for the day, but as we wandered past landmarks there was again a detour or two...

Weather forecast for the day wasn't quite positive and because it usually requires one to be quite fit even the video says it's gonna take and hour or so we used the bus to the city centre to start our last private guided tour.

Video tour: Oxford

Spoiler: it was again more than 15km. 

First stop: Christ Church—the college that doubles as a Harry Potter film set and a political powerhouse. It’s said that Lewis Carroll dreamed up Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland while hanging around here, though I suspect the food in the dining hall had something to do with his hallucinations. Across the street is Alice’s Shop, a quirky little place where Carroll’s real-life Alice bought sweets. 

And yet another bookshop 🫣

Of course, no trip to Oxford is complete without a stop at Oxford Castle and Prison, a site with a history as colorful as it is creepy. Originally built in the 11th century, the castle served as a stronghold, a courthouse, and later, a rather grim prison. Legend has it that the crypt beneath St. George’s Tower is haunted—because, of course, it is. Nothing says "Oxford experience" like wandering through ancient stone corridors and imagining the screams of medieval prisoners. If ghosts aren’t your thing, the views from the top of the tower are breathtaking and far less likely to send chills down your spine. Just don’t look too closely at the cells—you might think twice about complaining about your cramped Airbnb.

Another house with character 

Our tour wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Ashmolean Museum, the world’s first university museum and a treasure trove of wonders. From ancient artifacts to modern masterpieces, it’s a place where you can admire everything from Egyptian mummies to Van Gogh’s brushstrokes. But here’s the kicker: the Comper Wall Panels, originally part of the Randolph Gallery, were so massive they had to be disassembled and transported into the building in pieces. Imagine trying to explain that delivery to the movers! Once reconstructed, they became a stunning backdrop for the museum’s collections—proof that in Oxford, even the walls are too fancy to be ordinary.

And Xmas markets 

The Bridge of Sighs is not as tragic as its Venetian counterpart—it’s a walkway for students who are probably just sighing because their exams didn’t go so well. Speaking of exams, the Examination Schools nearby reminded us that Oxford students have been suffering academic stress since the 15th century.

Next, we stumbled upon the Radcliffe Camera, a majestic round building that looks like the ideal place to store secret wizarding archives but is, in fact, a library reading room. You can’t go inside unless you’re a student, but trust me, a good photo from the outside makes it look like you know things.

Ah, Teddy Ball—Oxford’s quirkiest tradition that proves even the most serious scholars know how to have fun! Officially hosted by St. Edmund Hall (fondly known as Teddy Hall), this annual event is a delightful mix of gowns, glitter, and a good dose of British eccentricity. Imagine black-tie elegance paired with a distinctly Oxford twist, where centuries-old architecture meets live music, questionable dance moves, and, if you’re lucky, some midnight snacks. It’s a night that balances the highbrow with the downright playful—because even at Oxford, everyone needs a break from being brilliant!

Oxford isn’t just the city of dreaming spires—it’s also the stomping ground of some of Britain’s most iconic fictional detectives: Inspector Morse and his loyal sidekick, Sergeant Lewis. Created by Colin Dexter, the duo solved crimes against the backdrop of the city’s cobblestone streets, historic colleges, and atmospheric pubs. It’s said that Dexter, a longtime Oxford resident, drew much of his inspiration from the city’s real-life charm and mystery.

From the White Horse Pub (a Morse favorite) to the Randolph Hotel (which appeared in several episodes), Oxford becomes almost a character in its own right, with its gothic architecture and shadowy corners adding to the intrigue. Even the Bodleian Library and Bridge of Sighs make cameo appearances. If you’re a fan, walking through Oxford feels like stepping into a crime novel—minus the murders, hopefully. For modern-day sleuths, it’s a thrill to spot filming locations and imagine Morse grumbling about his pint while unraveling the city’s secrets.

Paving 

A wall with a character on one of our detours. I just loved the plants which found their way to grow there even they greatly help the erosion and further damage of the wall. 

Oxbridge

 Thursday, 14th November 2024

Off we go .... to Oxford. Our last destination. Feeling a bit nostalgic. The time really flies. 

As you can see, our bus stop was really "far" from our accommodation. 😇

The coach driver wanted to be a comedian. He introduced himself, told us about emergency exits as if we were on a plane and then drove us to Luton where we waited an hour or so.

Some of our driver's quotes include: 

"Now's the time I tell ya I've been lying to ya, I've nicked the bus and got my driver's license off of Amazon."

"If you need anything just shout "Oi Pat.""

"No drinking alkohol or smoking unless you share with me and then I'm going to make this one (points to one of our fellow passengers) drive 'cause he has the best glasses." (Passenger replied with a giggle "Not a good decision, mate)

And last but certainly not least: "Just pray you're not in Luton too long" 

Did you know that Luton is quite a dangerous place? According to some media it's similar to our Orlová. Fortunately, we didn't have time to find out.

The room for upcoming three nights was quite far. An hour walk. But we really wanted to get to know the place before we go for our YouTube guided tour the next day. The guy at the Oxford House was actually quite nice. (Reviews were a bit scary but it was literally the only acceptable accommodation).

To find it was a challenge itself. It was the dark door in the middle.

Xmas is apparently here.

Wednesday, 13th November 2024, Grantchester

Greetings, dear readers!

It's me, the other half of this teacher duo, back with yet another episode of English adventures! This time, your favourite teachers are exploring the lands around Cambridge.

Our day started slowly with a calm walk towards the Wren Library. As it opens at 12 p.m., we had some time to spare and decided to sit on a bench and watch the punters punt by on the river, we even had time to visit the museum of zoology! The library was beautiful; we were even able to take a look at some manuscripts! As the Wren Library is part of Trinity College, we were able to take a closer look at the college where the famous writer Lord Byron kept the most peculiar of pets. Can you believe that he kept a bear as a pet? Yes, you read that right—a real, live bear. He was told that he could not, under any circumstances, keep a pet dog with him. So, being the smart man he was, he decided to keep a pet bear. They couldn't do anything about it because it wasn't against the rules. How petty and clever do you have to be to do something like that? Genius.

After our library visit, we decided to live out our rich Edwardian dreams, with our own twist, of course, as we embarked on a walk along the River Cam to visit the neighbouring village of Grantchester. Now, why rich and why Edwardian? Well, as it turns out, Grantchester was a popular destination for a day trip in the Edwardian era. Wealthy people went there on boats—90 minutes of punting on the River Cam. Did you know pleasure punting became a thing during the Victorian era? Fascinating.

Walking through the picturesque countryside, we saw a couple of murders (the collective noun for a group of crows) and some lovely ducks, and we slowly but surely made our way to our destination. When we got there, we quickly realised that, although a very nice place, there isn't much to see in the village. To our surprise, we saw what we think could very well be THE Manor Farm. Which one of you can tell me why the name of the farm is so significant? No need to put your hands up—leave your suggestions in the comments below! The village church was also quite charming—a classic English church.

Already feeling peckish, we decided it was time for us to head back to Cambridge. On our way back, we took a slightly different route, and it took us through a meadow full of cows! Now, I really like cows—they are awesome—so I was a very happy little camper. They were so close! No fence, just us and the small herd of very cute cows. Mum was not as excited as I was, having more than a healthy amount of respect for the big animals.

And that's it for today! Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for the next episode of English adventures! Don’t forget to write a comment—we’d love to read your thoughts and answer any burning questions you might have!

Yours truly,

Adrien✨