THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS The Bridge of Sighs, pictured on the left, is modelled after the famous Italian Bridge that has the same name. It's located on Catte Street (between Broad and High), but the best views of it are from Old Schools Quad at the Bodleian Library. THE COVERED MARKET Many cities in England have Covered Markets, but Oxford's is really cool. It has three entrances: one off Cornmarket, off Broad Street, and off the High. As you enter, don't be intimidated by the dead animal carcasses hanging out in front of the butcher stalls. You'll find shoe repair shops, sweet shops, meat shops, clothing shops. You need it, the Covered Market will have it. Your first stop must be the Oxford Sandwich Shop for a melted mozerella sandwich with tomato, onions, olives, fresh basil on a rustic bap. Then wander around the tangle of shops, dropping bits of onion and olive as you go. Peek into some of the shops, watch them taking cakes out of ovens, again, avoid the dead animal carcasses. When you've finished your sandwich, stop by Ben's Cookies, the best sweet shop in the Covered Market. Just be sure to ask for the cookies that are fresh out of the oven. Take several napkins, and be careful... they're hot!

MAY DAY May Day is an important and festive day in England. Several towns hold balls that last all night and deep into the morning. But in Oxford, May Day is special and traditional. As the sun rises and the mist creeps its way over the moist fields of morning, students return to Oxford from one of the many balls in nearby fields and meet on Magdalen Bridge. Several daring students jump off the bridge into the river, either in the buff or still in their tuxedo or ball gown from the night before. Although the crowd greatly appreciates their spontenaity and herocism, the police do not, since it's a crime to jump off the bridge. Students who jump off the bridge are photographed and fined. Sometimes bicycles are thrown into the river, but I don't know what the police do then. Anyway, at a certain point in the morning, the Magdalen College choir sings a song to officially welcome Spring, and the college bells are rung for about an hour or so. After this, students head off to pubs and sandwich shops, either recouperating from the night before or continuing the festivities. UNIVERSITY PARKS Whatever time of year it is, University Parks, shown in full bloom on the right, always seem to be beautiful. In the autumn, the trees are ablaze with color. The skyline of Oxford can be easily seen through the bare trees in the winter. But in the spring, University Parks is at its most beautiful. There are flowers everywhere, the grass is so green. There is nothing finer than to read a good book under one of the many trees in University Parks on a warm spring day. The parks run throughout Oxford and have several entrances in the city.

PUNT BOATS While you were in University Parks, you may have notice people sailing along the river in these odd-looking flat boats. These are called punt boats, and they can be rented from one of the colleges (if you're a student) or down by Christ Church (if you're not a student). They're fun and relaxing, if you're not the one chosen to push the boat along; the current of the river isn't always strong and certain spots in the river aren't that deep. The punt boats come with a long pole used to manuever the boat along. Watch out for rocks and bring wine. KEBAB VANS Hungry for a late night snack as you head out for an evening on the town? Stop at one of the many kebab vans strategically placed throughout Oxford. They offer up cheap and fast food... but they are a bit sketchy. You can order up a jacket potato (same thing as a baked potato) with cheese or sour cream or butter or all of the above, chips (same thing as french fries), crisps (same thing as potato chips), a kebab with lamb or pork or chicken... the list goes on and on. Just remember, you can't see what goes on inside those vans. NIGHTLIFE You've had a tour, you've done some shopping, you've eaten, you've boated. Now get out there and boogie! Oxford may not be one of the top nightlife cities in England (OK, it isn't), but it's certainly got a variety of things to do. Oxford has two movie theaters, tons of pubs, many restaurants and a few cool clubs. Whether you're in the mood for a pint of cider at Bath Place, shown on the left, or 70's night at the Old Fire Station, you can always find something to do at night in Oxford. Well, that's the end of my tour of Oxford. I hope you enjoyed yourself. take another walk around Oxford home is where I want to be