Middle of…the Market

ANY TIME I HEAR OF a gathering of vendors, I can assure you that I am in the midst of it.

Of course when I heard of Market I got a little excited. I'd hardly started my morning tea before I dismissed it, and marched out the door to Gloucester Green. The courtyard was in transition to a bazaar as I passed yesterday and seen the tents set up — all that was missing were the merchants and the goods they'd peddle until the rain set in.

At 9:30 I arrived. Sad to say, it was quite the disappointment. While the fruit and vegetables were wonderful in fact, I didn't feel the need to buy any. Other tents held various items, many of use to a traveling college student: cushioned shoes for the older folk, gobs of polyester pants and shirts, checkered skirts and striped knee socks. Cheap jewelry and old CD's (I was elated to find a Hanson Middle of Nowhere album, and my personal favorite Skankin' Sausages by the Catch-It Kebobs), bags and bags of candy still in their cardboard box, certainly bought at a bulk rate and marked up to a hefty £l a bag. Not even the candy was enticing! I would best describe the Market as a glorified outdoor dollar store-meets-unnecessary items strategically placed near all checkouts— things, cheaply made, that no one needs, just sees and thinks, "Hey, a pair of striped tube socks. I might need those sometime."







A friend and I decided to make our way to the Covered Market, Oxford's own "unequaled shopping experience." It was, indeed, a "shopping experience", though certainly not unequaled. There were highlights and a certain sense of uniqueness amongst the shops and cafés, but many of the vendors were rather cheesy, I thought. The best part about this market were the butchers, fish mongers, and cake decorators. A massive pile of fresh fish heads stared at passerbys, and lobsters crawled in a tank. You could smell the livelihood — or, rather "deadlihood" — of the fresh catches. There was definitely a variety; I saw everything from purses, to jars of goat fat, salt and pepper shakes, and my favorite delectable cookies, still warm and gooey! I bought an orange chocolate chip cookie at market to go with my mint chai. One of my favorite breakfasts thus far.

I'd escaped two markets purchasing just a cookie. I felt…pathetic.

The bus station was right around the corner, so I conveniently purchased my bus pass to London. I bought a "Tube 12", the equivalent of six round-trip rides from Oxford to London. I don't believe I'll make it to London six times, though I am hoping for a minimun of three.

I crashed after lecture and took a really refreshing nap. The weather wasn't pretty here today (it hasn't been very pleasant since a day or two after we arrived) and a productive morning called for a quiet evening. I considered seeing an indie film at a theatre in Jericho, but got left behind by the group that went! I instead settled for watching "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" in the student lounge with a group of students, much cheaper than a £7 movie.

I am hoping to get some good, hard sleep tonight, as I aim for a walk along the River Thames in the a.m. I haven't been near the river since our first day, and 10 a.m. class allows plenty of time for the stroll. Perhaps I shall even grab another cappuccino from On the Hoof!

To all in Fargo and/or Minot with inane weather conditions, I wish you all the best. I know I'd be sandbagging if I were in the area!

love.
jc