London Week 5

Lexie Palasciano checks in weekly from her study abroad semester in London; catch up with her every Friday on Trazee Travel.

Famous for one of the oldest universities in the world, Oxford is a city of castles, old-world charm and hand-crafted markets. Venturing two hours from London to participate in the Oxford Memory Walk hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society, Oxford, England, proved to be more than just a city of walks for research and ancient universities, but one of incredible culture and nostalgic landscapes for me.

© Lexie Palasciano

After walking 6.5 kilometers to raise money for the Alzheimer’s society, our adventures in Oxford were far from over. Following the Memory Walk, we had time before we returned to London to explore a world-renowned “college town.” After stopping quickly for a bite to eat, the first thing to check off my bucket list was to buy an authentic Oxford University sweatshirt. After a few dozen options and a store or two, I finally found the perfect one and headed with my new attire to explore the campus.

© Lexie Palasciano

Balliol College of Oxford University is one of the oldest colleges in Oxford, dating back to 1263. And, while the campus by itself is beautiful, the old-world charm of the school is equally matched with modern-day crafts and artwork at the Sunday market right outside the college’s gates. Selling handmade rings and necklaces alongside homemade ceramic pots and mugs, a few hours of exploring in Oxford proved too short. While my excursion to Oxford may have been quick, it was full of historic learning, beautiful halls and evident nodes of inspiration for college towns like Cambridge, Mass., back at home in the States.