Tourists enjoy a beautiful day at a beautiful castle

OF CASTLES AND PAGEANTRY: Warwick and Stratford

Last Wednesday, just before we all scattered for our Easter break trips, we had a long but lovely day visiting Warwick Castle and attending a Royal Shakespeare Company production of "A Winter's Tale," written near the end of the great playwright's career. The play is not performed often because it's long, the plot has a few holes and the motivations of the characters can be difficult to understand. But this was a well-reviewed production, and for good reason: the acting was superb, the interpretation was creative but seemed true to the spirit of the play, and the audience was appreciative. The original setting was in a sort of mythical ancient time, but the director chose to set it in the Victorian era. The most impressive scene was when two very tall bookcases fell over and the books scatter all over the stage. The book pages stayed there for the rest of the play and ended up being part of the set; we had discussions about what they symbolized. Was it civilization? Humanism? Intellectualism? Nobody was sure, but the spectacle of the play, including the wonderful sheep-shearing festival with music, dancing and colorful costumes encouraged us to leave some questions unanswered.

Warwick Castle is such a beautiful, classic, perfectly preserved medieval castle that it feels more like a Disneyland recreation, which is only enhanced by the intense theme-park atmosphere. But it is obvious that children love the experience, and it was a beautiful day.

CUPS SET FOR TEA AT WYCLIFFE HALL

STOMP!!!

Yesterday exactly 30 of us traveled to London to see a performance of "Stomp," at the Ambassador Theatre. This indescribable rhythm extravaganza was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival about ten years ago; now I'm sure there are dozens, if not hundreds, of theatre troupes in the world performing it. Imagine, if you will, percussion pieces performed using everything from plastic bags to matchboxes, to newspapers, to oil drums (on the performers' feet!) to trash can covers. This is my third performance, and I think I'd be happy to see it again! Highly recommended.

A word about the coach ride to London: They leave every 20 minutes (24/7) from Gloucester Green (about 8 blocks from Wycliffe Hall). The round-trip cost: between £6 and £10, depending on your age and student status. We rode on what's called the Oxford "Tube," which is a double-decker (with a toilet and free wireless Internet access). The coaches are luxurious, quiet, clean and altogether very pleasant. The trip takes about 80 minutes. Coach service is available to almost anywhere in the UK for a reasonable price, and they run often and are always on time. What a luxury!

AN UNUSUAL WINDOW

Most of the windows in the Summertown Health Clinic look like this. Certainly a bit different from what we are used to!

A TRIP TO THE UK DOCTOR

I had hoped in vain that we could avoid health problems on this trip, but alas, it was not to be. At least a dozen students now are exhibiting symptoms such as sore throats, coughs, etc., but we had a more serious situation today. One student in our group said her eye felt as though someone was scratching it with sandpaper -- an apt, if horrifying, description. With the help of Wycliffe Hall's domestic bursar, we managed to get an appointment ten minutes from the time we called the Summertown Clinic. That's exactly how long it took for the bursar to drive us there.

In the past, I've been able to get free medical care for Eurospring students, but the UK is experiencing such intense pressure on their health services that they now charge for non-citizens. Her consultation, we discovered, would cost £35 (about $50), which sounded like a bargain to someone in her condition.

Within another five minutes, we were in the doctor's office. The young, attractive, East Indian female doctor (dressed in street clothes) was so kind and helpful that it made me wish I could be taken care of by her. She had to leave the room to secure eyedrops, leaving her purse and keys on her desk. I also noticed a panier on the floor. She must ride her bicycle to work.

Within a few minutes she declared that the cornea was NOT scratched, and that, hopefully, some antibiotic ointment would help what she diagnosed as an eye infection.

A cab was called for us, which arrived in less than five minutes. The driver, I noticed, was also East Indian. The cost -- £5. The ailing but relieved student retired to her room while I walked a block to the nearest pharmacy and picked up her prescription. The cost -- £4.95. If this works, we all are very fortunate, thanks to a relatively efficient system with efficient but very human health care professionals.

BRITISH CUISINE -- AN OXYMORON?

Some people in our group love English meals. They consider it comfort food -- lots of potatoes, roast meat and dairy products. So why are there so many jokes about bad British food? Maybe it's the lack of interesting seasonings, the limp vegetables, the grease, the pale french fries (or "chips") and the unassuming presentation. However, things are getting better all the time, thanks to the wide variety of immigrant groups who all seem to open restaurants; to a growing appreciation for good cooking by Brits who travel a lot; and the availability of seasonal produce all year. Some historians argue that Britain suffered food-wise more than any other country during WWII, and that a whole generation of chefs were lost. They were the only European country still rationing food in the mid-50s. When you're on a survival diet, it's hard to be creative.

The one immigrant group that far outnumbers every other and that has contributed the most to variety in English cuisine is, of course, East Indians. As our waiter told us Saturday when we ate at The Eastern Eye in Bath, there are approximately 8000 Indian restaurants in Great Britain. In fact, my British friends tell me that curry is considered the national dish of Great Britain!