OXFORD 4: The Cow and Kite

Cow.
I don't believe I zoomed this photo; the cow was really close.
Sadly, I did not get a close-up of Kite.

Fr 13 May

Pub Names

I've noticed that a lot of British pubs have names like "The Eagle and Child" or "The Lamb and Flag" or "The Swan and Castle" or "The Angel and Greyhound" or "The Rose and Crown." These are all actual names of pubs in Oxford, though as mentioned in the last post, The Eagle and Child is closed for at least two years. Inspired by these names, I'm calling this post "The Cow and Kite." Later you'll understand why. 

Short Post Today

I'm also keeping today's post short, as we've already been out late (back to our room at 10:45pm today vs. something like 7pm yesterday), and we have a big day tomorrow. We had three main activities today: 

• visiting Magdalen College and walking along its beautiful meadow
• visiting the even larger Christ Church meadow and Boathouse Island at the end
• hanging out with our Beloved Daughter, seeing her business school and seeing a huge third meadow, Port Meadow, site of the Cow and Kite.

I will post just a small sampling of photos; we took dozens and dozens of photos of the beautiful buildings and halls, and beautiful scenery.  It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day, and lots of people were out punting or picnicking. We spent most of the day outdoors as well.

Magdalen College

Magdalen College Meadows

Christ Church Meadow and Boathouse Island

The Cow and Kite

Out in the vast Port Meadow of Oxford, in the early evening, there were a few groups of people picnicking here and there. There was also a man flying a green parafoil kite. At one point his kite came down, and a couple of cows in the meadow came over to investigate. The man tried to carry his kite off, but not only did the two cows follow him, but more joined in the party. It was like the Pied Piper leading the rats, only it was the Kite Man being persistently followed by cows. It was really quite funny; both Doug and I took videos. Eventually the man managed to get himself and his kite far enough away that the cows lost interest.

LEFT: 2 cows.  MIDDLE: Kite.  RIGHT: Man.

Man & Kite, being followed by multiple cows.

Next Post

You'll just have to wait and see. We're using our rental car to travel about an hour away from Oxford...

In front of the Saïd Business School

At Port Meadow
(site of the Cow and Kite)

Just imagine all the other stories from today I don't have time to tell..