June 19, 2026
June 19, 2026 – Oxford, England
We met in the lobby on this beautiful sunny morning. As we walked to the coach, we saw many Oxford University students heading off for exams in their testing regalia: black robes, black pants or skirts, white shirts, and black ties. The telltale carnations pinned to their robes indicated where they were in their series of examinations—white for the first exam, pink for those in the middle, and red for the final one. We wished them luck, and they were very appreciative.
Our first stop was Blenheim Palace, the largest private home in England. Sir Winston Churchill was born here in 1874. His parents, Lord Randolph Churchill and Jennie Jerome, were attending a party at the palace when she unexpectedly went into labor. Blenheim was the home of Winston’s grandparents, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. Through the Spencer family line, Churchill and Princess Diana were distant relatives.
One of Churchill’s famous quotes about World War II was: “Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be.”
We then traveled a short distance to St. Martin’s Church in Bladon, where Churchill and many members of his family are buried. The graveyard is remarkably simple and unpretentious for such a famous family.
After returning to the hotel for lunch, we headed to the Ashmolean Museum. The museum houses a beautiful collection of European oil paintings. Several works depicted religious scenes, including the Madonna and the birth of Christ.
Afterward, we wandered through the market area, where most of the shops seemed to feature Oxford T-shirts and Harry Potter merchandise.
In the evening, we had a very special experience: dinner in the library of Christ Church with Oxford students. It was both enjoyable and enlightening. We were toured from our hotel to Christ Church. We peaked in a few doors of some of the colleges. Apparently they are very possessive of their colleges and don’t allow other college’s members or the public in to their college property. We could stop at one gate only.
Our tour guide, Alex Russell, is pursuing a doctorate at Oxford. His area of study is the social aspects and ethics of artificial intelligence. Because the field is so new, he explained that finding existing research can be challenging. He is focused on studying the ethical implications of AI and was careful not to share his personal views, preferring instead to let the research guide his conclusions.
The evening was fascinating. The venue itself was truly amazing when you stop to think about how many brilliant minds have walked these halls, engaged in discussions, and contributed to centuries of learning.
Back to the hotel.
Good night, Oxford.
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