Yesterday was my solo day to Stratford-upon-Avon. The program was originally set to go there, but due to budgetary restrictions, the trip got cancelled. I asked my program director if I could take a day to still go, since I've been everywhere that the trip is planning on going in London, and she said yes.
My train to Stratford-upon-Avon left Marylebone station at 8:00 AM. I got up at 6, expecting heavy traffic from a morning rush. There was none. So arriving a little over an hour before my train left, I sat at the station, killing time eating a panini.
Fast-forward three hours and I'm getting off the train at Stratford-upon-Avon. My first reaction to the area was kind of disenchanting. The parking lot was under construction with the ground turned up and ugly chain-link fences all over. Even further along I saw closed and poorly kept shops along both sides of the street. It didn't help when I felt a drop of rain hit my face and I hadn't even been here for three minutes! But as I kept going I started to see what I had originally expected. I began to see more of the old looking, tan colored houses with the brown trim around it. The streets and shops a lot cleaner and more touristy.
My first stop was to the Shakespeare Center. I bought the Birthplace Pass, which allowed me access to 4 different Shakespeare-related buildings (and apparently it's valid for a whole year!) I started at the house that Shakespeare was born and grew up in. Then New Place and Nash's House, the place grown up Shakespeare lived. Third was Hall's Croft, home of Shakespeare's eldest daughter, Susanna(?), and finally his grave in Holy Trinity Church.
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Nash House and New Place
I learned a lot about Shakespeare while I was there. I learned his father was a glove maker and that Shakespeare makes many specific references to the profession. One of the reenactors said there was an example in the Merry wives of Windsor, but I can't remember. I also learned about the buildings themselves. Apparently, it was common for visitors to carve their names in the glass of the windows in Shakespeare's Birthplace. The caretakers of the building had to replace the windows but have kept some on display for people to see. When I was at New Place, I learned that it is no longer a place. Putting it simply (there is definitely room for error) the new tenants of the house were tired of visitors coming to see the famous house of Shakespeare that they tore it down. Now it's a garden area. It's quite beautiful with abstract statues that have quotes from some of Shakespeare's various plays.
Other places I went to see where the Royal Shakespeare Company building I bought two DVDs while there. There was also a market going on with vendors selling jewelry, food, bags, etc. Besides that, it was a lot of sitting. I'd walked a lot the day before and was definitely feeling it before I even arrived at Stratford-upon-Avon.
It kept raining on and off throughout the day, but it was never a downpour. Once I arrived back, I spent maybe over a half hour trying to upload a video on a smart phone that only had 10% battery left. After that, I went in search for food. I ended up eating at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (next time I'll go to the pub for fish n chips) and got what else, a burger. Back in the room and sorting through all of my stuff. Getting things organzied in my bag. Tomorrow is Stonehenge and Baths. I'll finally be able to see Stonehenge after being shafted by the weather last time!
UPDATE: Due to slow wifi, posts will be going on a hiatus. I don't know when I'll be able to post new updates.
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