The final chunk of my three week European adventure was incredibly relaxing and a much needed respite from huge group tours shared with 40 other college students. I traveled to Oxford, England to visit with my friend Tim (an NU student studying at Oxford for the year). His parents were concluding a 3 week visit for the first 5 days of my time with Tim, and it was nice to meet them and spend time with people other than 21 year olds. I was thankful to have a real conversation with an adult, as opposed to the majority of time spent with my peers for the previous weeks. We usually talked about harassing the prostitutes in the Russian hotels and comparing who had the best pictures with them. Maturity only decreases in large groups.

The four of us spent time at Oxford and Bath, both beautiful charming towns. The landscape around us was green, the flowers were blooming and the fields teemed with new spring lambs. The quaintness oozed out of everything. It was really nice to not be in a large city, and to take a more relaxed pace. Walking around small neighborhoods, eating in pubs, and trying different ales (my favorites were called The Fursty Ferret and the Waggledance) made for a great deal of fun.

After Tim's parents left, we took a bus to Cheltenham to take some walks around the outskirts of the city. We stayed at the local YMCA (the only youth hostel) and wandered throughout the city and the surrounding countryside. The week was refreshing and it prepared me for the busy month that remains in Copenhagen.

Tim and I on the Cotswold Way with Cheltenham in the background.