England by www.born2travel.it

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07. 07. 1996 Oxford (ENGLAND)

My adventure in England began this morning at 7.10 at Capodichino airport (Naples) when I boarded the beautiful British Airways plane, my first flight! It was very exciting and I was greatly struck by the huge acceleration between the take-off run and the plane's lift-off phase! Having landed at Gatwick airport, a bus takes us straight to Oxford. Our college, "Oxford Brookes University", is immense and the students, from all over the world, all seem very friendly. I'm staying in room H1, and while I jot down my first thoughts and the little squirrels play chase near my window, a small group of Turkish boys is taking over the nearby rooms. Tomorrow a tough test awaits us: the entrance exam! Let's hope for the best! 10. 07. 1996 Oxford (ENGLAND) My "team" is made up of a group of boys and girls my age, all from Naples.

They're really nice and we've already struck up a strong friendship! 11. 07. 1996 Bourton on the water (ENGLAND) This morning we visited a delightful little village: Bourton on the water. I had great fun wandering those streets, so silent and peaceful. I was very struck when we bought an ice cream and the lady insisted on keeping the wrappers, perhaps fearing we'd throw them on the street! What a bad opinion they have of us... 14. 07. 1996 London (ENGLAND) And at last, today, for the first time I visit my favourite city: London! Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, the Queen's mounted guards, Westminster, St Paul's Cathedral, the Globe, the Thames, the classic red double-decker buses, the famous taxis, Harrods, the many shops, the people: it was all wonderful. I remained enchanted by everything around me... 15. 07.

1996 Salisbury (ENGLAND) What a thrill! Today I saw "Stonehenge"! It fascinated me enormously. If I only thought of the many legends, stories and mysteries that revolve around "those four stones" (as many of my friends called them) I shuddered.... Even today no one has managed to understand 100% the purpose of this mystical place. 17. 07. 1996 Stratford upon Avon (ENGLAND) Not far from Oxford is the little town of Stratford upon Avon, made famous because it was the birthplace of the great writer William Shakespeare and his wife. Among other things we also visited the latter's house, which was lived in by an old lady until 1899! 21. 07. 1996 London (ENGLAND) A day spent almost entirely in crazy Carnaby Street. One of the most transgressive streets in London. There were lots of little shops, side by side, selling the most disparate things. Clothes and very strange objects...

Lots of unusual characters wandering here and there... In the evening, once back at college, while we were chatting at the entrance to the sports centre, a scooter came along with some pizzas to deliver somewhere nearby... He asks us if we had ordered them... We certainly didn't miss the chance and after a lot of talking we manage to convince him that we had ordered them... A good feast in the middle of the night was just what we needed, we poor Italians who simply cannot get used to British cooking!

24. 07. 1996 Oxford (ENGLAND)

After the usual morning lessons, in the afternoon we visited "Blenheim Palace". The palace of the great English statesman: Winston Churchill. It was wonderful; there were fountains everywhere, artistically trimmed bushes and even a large artificial lake! Inside: ancient Chinese vases, war trophies, very precious furniture, medieval armour, collectible weapons, immense bookcases stuffed with books.... As we went through the various rooms open to visitors they told us the history of this great British politician, very fascinating! 26. 07. 1996 Oxford (ENGLAND) I'm a bit sad because many of my friends have left, I'll never forget them! But college life goes on peacefully and tonight there was the "International Evening"! Each nation presented something characteristic of its homeland.

The English started: Chris, Adrian, Camon and Kevin, who sang three Take That songs, the band that in this period embodies the stereotype of the English boy. They were really good! Then came the Portuguese with their "fado"; the Greeks dancing the "sirtaki"; the Milanese with the song "Oh mia bella Madunnina"; we sang "Oh sole mio", "Funiculì Funiculà" and "O' surdat 'nnamurato" like the good Neapolitans we are; the Russians with games from their nation and finally the South Koreans (for me they were the best) with a very moving dance from their country!

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