This morning, under the influence of jetlag, I woke at 4:30. Normally this would have been unpleasantly out of sync with the rest of Oxford, but not so today. For the last 500 or so May 1st's a crowd has gathered at 5am beneath the tower of Magdalene College to hear morning prayer sung from its top at sunrise. Today this crowd was a mix of patiently waiting academic and tourist types, and really, really drunk undergrads who had been out all night.
For the latter group one of the highlights of the event is jumping from Magdalene Bridge into the few feet of muddy water that runs beneath. There were so many people injured in the performance of this noble tradition a few years ago, that they now close the bridge. There were 15 or so police blocking access, though occasionally a particularly brave, which is to say inebriated, reveler would break through their ranks and throw himself from the bridge.
This guy was one of the success stories; he was fished out and marched back to the barrier by the cops to massive cheers. When the cheering died down he could be heard to say, "I am *%$!^ $(%ing coolddd." We salute you.
The rest of the University area is filled with wild folk dancers for the next few hours, then everybody goes home to bed.
YMCA
Crankin the Soulja Boy
This is a guy dressed like a tree.
This is a dancer taking a coffee break with a guy dressed like a tree.
lads
a clock work lavender
The rest of the city was pretty quiet.
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