Tag: natural history

Christmas In Oxford

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christmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathsHere’s a few snaps from my recent trip to Oxford! Christmastime is one of my favourite seasons to visit new places. I feel like people try harder to be friendly, everything is decorated to look a bit nicer and you appreciate a warm and friendly shop or cafe that bit more. It’s no wonder most of my travelling happens during the colder months!

I have to say, the Oxford buildings remind me a little of the Cotswolds; fat yellow bricks and purple slate roofs, with windy cobbled streets running between everything. It’s all very “quaint British” to my eyes which a lot of people consider people to be a hallmark of this country. It’s funny, a huge portion of my American family are obsessed with the UK’s streets and buildings: I’m hardly the biggest fan in the world and yet I’m the one surrounded by it!

These photos were taken in a few different areas; some in various shops around Oxford, the covered market and of course a couple of the beautiful buildings. It was really magical to be able to see the Christmas lights and festive displays in the shops. Even without decorations the old buildings with their decorative lattice work looked pretty special anyway!christmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreaths

Oxford University Museum

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oxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaCamel Skeletonoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaI was lucky enough to spend a week in Oxford recently with one of my dear friends. There is a certain charm to the place itself but for me the highlights are definitely the museums. Last time I was there I wrote a post on the wonderful History of Science Museum and this trip we visited the OUM of Natural History and adjoining Pitt-Rivers Museum.

It was actually quite an odd experience. The Museum itself is great; wonderful architecture and factual displays. As you probably know by now, I’m obsessed with animals. Whilst we wandered around I thought that perhaps my love of animals stems from being exposed to a lot of animals at a young age. There were a lot of kids wandering around and drawing pictures of giraffes, tigers, lions etc – all the exotic, faraway animals you learn about in school.

Thing is, I can first remember seeing a giraffe aged about 4 and at this point in my life I’ve met most of these animals numerous times. I wondered if that has something to do with why I’ve always felt so strongly about animal rights and care. Perhaps the dangers and problems animals face seem more real when the animals themselves stop being theoretical?

Seeing a preserved taxidermy tortoise when just a few short weeks ago I was interacting with real ones was a truly bizarre experience, the camel skeleton just reminded me of Casanova (the camel that “flirted” with me in Egypt), and by the time we reached a stuffed fox, all I could unhappily think about was the foxes that play outside my bedroom window here in London. I was still fascinated by the skeletons of dinosaurs and the fossils of long extinct animals, but for some reason I found the exhibits of animals still alive today really jarring and it left me feeling a bit despondent (as per usual) about the way animals are treated in our society.

My friend made the point that it’s weird to see skeletons and taxidermy and think that all those animals were hunted. I sarcastically replied that it’s hardly like animals roll over and die for us to eat them every day – but he had genuinely never considered the fact that animals were hunted to be displayed before. Perhaps it’s just the way different brains work?oxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, laila
oxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, laila