We drove to Stratford upon Avon (home town of Shakespeare) early Friday morning. Scott bought some tickets for the 3 of us to watch Hamlet and we arrived in town just in time. Michelle and I sat beside each other and Scott was across the stage all by himself. Dave took Ava around town and then swimming while we watched the play. I loved the "modern" take they went with but Scott had to remind me of who the characters where and what role they had. After all I did graduate 10 years ago, and no one can remember everything for 10 years right?
This is Shakespeare's home and birth place. It was really expensive to go inside because you had to buy a combo ticket and visit the rest of the Shakespeare sites (which we didn't have time for) so we opted for an outside photo.
The streets of Stratford upon Avon. It was a darling town that I definitely need to visit again. After the play Scott, Michelle and I wen't out for Crepes. They were so good, Michelle and I both had dessert toppings but Scott wanted an asparagus one that ended up in a long confusing battle of the menu/new employee/counting change. . .
This guy is a live statue! I knew he was alive because I have seen this kind of street performer a lot over the past 5 years in Europe. I don't think Michelle and Scott believed me until I leaned in for the shot and told Michelle to quickly snap a picture before he touched me. Sure enough as soon as I leaned in he moved and wanted to talk to me. I was too scared and practically ran down the street.
It was late afternoon when we went to see the Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare's Wife) cottage. We were the last people to enter before they closed for the day, but that didn't mean we got a discounted price, we paid 7.70 pounds and of course no inside pictures were allowed! Scott and Michelle both took one before they were told of this rule but unfortunately I didn't. The cottage has been added on many times and actually never looked this good when Anne lived there.
There were fabulous vegetables and fruit trees growing all around the cottage. We even tried Mulberries which have a complex flavor that Scott hated. Mulberry
We spent the night in a converted estate home called Eynsham Hall. They served a full English breakfast which most of us loved but poor Michelle just couldn't. Scott and Michelle had a fun time trying to get back into their room after locking themselves out. The iron was in the hallway and because they left their window open the pressure slammed the door behind them. The extra key ring was brought up but it was a guessing game as to which one fit their door. Fun Memories
When it came to Oxford, I feel embarrassed as to what happened. I didn't know Scott and Michelle had specific things they wanted to see, so I didn't plan much time there. To speed things up Dave, Ava and I didn't go in anything, we walked around and waited. This is a picture of Oxford University, but the rest of the pictures are random shots as we walked.
On our way to Stonehenge we stopped at a place called Avebury. It's a smaller rock formation that you can walk around and climb on. it was fun to be able to actually touch the rocks but to me it had nothing to the real thing. Stonehenge was cooler then I ever imagined.
Ava fell asleep just as we pulled into the Stonehenge parking lot. Dave and I had to take turns, one stayed at the car and the other quickly took the recorded tour around the rocks. We had to ask random people to take our pictures and when you ask random people you end up with random pictures. Seriously couldn't someone have stopped to tell me my tank top was hanging so far out of my sweater that it looked stupid? Dave would have!
Stonehenge was more amazing then I even imagined. I thought sure some giants rocks in formation that no one knows about why or how? But honestly it's a site that makes your imagination go wild, I really liked being there.
