The best price for flights that I found was on Iceland Air. As with most international flights I arrived about 3 hours before takeoff. At both ends, O’Hare and Heathrow, there was no line to check in with Iceland Air, while there were huge lines for the other carriers.

Of course you have to fly through Reykjavik. Not being able to board your plane at the gate in the terminal, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the winter, might be an issue for some people.

On approach to Heathrow, with London and the Thames River below.

My bus dropped me off on St. Aldate’s Street. This is St. Aldate’s church.

Across the street is Christ Church Cathedral, constructed in the 12th century, which means it predates the Magna Charta.

The old Oxford Town Hall is just up the street. It now hosts the Museum of Oxford.

At the back end of the Town Hall, at 5 Blue Boar Street, is the home of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, where we met with our colleagues during the week. The building is also occupied by Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, Great Britain’s IFES affiliate. (In the US it’s InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.)

Even the rooftop views are intriguing in Oxford.

As are the narrow alleys.

There are students everywhere, of course, including playing chess in the window of a a coffee house.

Also lots of bicycles, though I didn’t photograph many of them. This is alongside St. Mary Magdalen Church.

Also lots of old churches in the center of Oxford, with interesting names like St. Giles.

Also lots of iconic phone booths, though they were all locked.

England also has lots of trains, though I didn’t get to ride any on this trip.

But I did enjoy riding to the office each day in the front seat on the upper level of a double decker bus.

The English affinity for understatement is sometimes reflected in the names of stores.

But the architecture is most interesting, such as the Radcliffe Camera, part of the Bodleian Library. At least the sun did shine one day during our visit.

The Bodleian Library, one of the oldest and largest libraries in Europe.

This is another place that has a lot of books. Lots of books.

Castle Mound, remains of a Medieval Castle dating back to the 12th century. The nearby Castle and Prison is now an upscale hotel.

A pen, street art.

Walton Crescent

Radcliffe Observatory

The tour ends at the Bridge of Sighs, connecting two buildings of Hertford College.

Leaving the English countryside behind, headed home.

Another stop in Reykjavik. The sun was setting at 4pm, as we taxied down the runway.

There aren’t very many trees in Iceland.

The closest I’ll ever get to Greenland.

The Mackinac Bridge visible on approach to O’Hare.