Week 2: Coming of Age as a Thinker and Skeptic

Day 1: Oxford 

Above is the bell tower at Oxford's Christ Church College designed by the iconic Christopher Wren. 

 Here is the Great Hall where the pictures of some of Oxford's best and brightest graduates hang including Lewis Carroll, Albert Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin.  

This is the famous "rabbit hole" that was the gateway to adventure for Alice in Oxford's own, Lewis Carroll's Alice Adventure in Wonderland. 

Day 2: Eltham Palace

 This is Eltham Palace which is located just outside of London. 

The palace is comprised of both Medieval and Baroque style architecture which promotes personal values and religious beliefs.  

The palace received extensive damage during  World War II, but luckily was not completely devastated by the bombings. 

Day 3: Hampton Court Palace

Upon entry to the palace, the statues of the animals and crests of the royal families that have occupied the estate remind you just how important this place is.  

King William III's apartment staircase display his religious beliefs and power  he had in a piece of artwork starting at ground level going all the way to the middle of the ceiling. 

King Henry's personal apartment displays his dislike for the Catholic Church with this violent piece of artwork in which the Pope himself is being stoned. 

Throughout the week we learned to grow as a thinker and a skeptic. I learned that with good decision making and a bit of guidance, we are all able to make it to the center of the maze in our crazy yet beautiful world.