Today was our tour to Stratford Upon Avon. It was a 2 hour drive through beautiful, snow-covered countryside. When we arrived, we met our guide Wendy and started walking through Stratford. The first place we visited was Shakespeare’s birthplace. The workers were using regular shovels to chop through the ice and spread sand. Wendy said the last time they had a snow like this one was 1981! Wow. They probably have 4” of snow and below freezing temperature. Thankfully the sun was out today.
Interesting fact. Shakespeare was born on April, 24, 1564 and die on April 24, 1616.
When we toured the house the stones that cover the floor in the main room are original, so we were stepping where Shakespeare tread 400 years ago. It was really cool. The rooms are small and the ceilings are low to help keep the heat in. There were a number of things that one of the docents explained, particularly about the bedroom. The beds were small to keep bodies close together for warmth. They were short because people did not lay down flat as we do but rather recline in bed. The explanation he gave for this is because then when Satan would be out on his patrol for dead souls, if you were laying flat he could mistake you for dead and take you away in your sleep.
He showed us the trundle bed that was keep under the parents bed. It was a wood frame with ropes that could be tightened with a tool. The saying “Good night, sleep tight” comes from the tightening of these ropes. The tighter the better, more comfortable sleep.
After touring the house Shakespeare was born in, we walked through the town. Very picturesque. I imagine in the spring and summer it is a very beautiful, quaint English town. We walked down to the place where the house that Shakespeare purchased after coming back from London a rich man was located. The house no longer stands but they have a commemorative garden in place. We say the Guild Church and quarters where Shakespeare went to drama school. It is still a drama school. We then walked down to the Swan Theatre, which is on the river. It is being remodeled right now. Then we walked up to the Courtyard Theatre where the show was being performed. Past that we walked to the Holy Trinity church where Shakespeare is buried. Unfortunately there were working on the alter right where his tombstone is so we couldn’t actually see it.
After the church we walked back to the theatre to see Arabian Nights by the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Theatre). It was an amazing show. The was the props and actors were used for scenery was very theatrical. Excellent acting, the caliber you would see in New York or Chicago, easily. Half of the theatre was filled with school kids, probably Callista’s age, so they really played to the kids. Fun, fun show.
After the show, we boarded the warm bus and headed back to London. Callista went right to bed, no dinner or anything. She’s exhausted. We have been doing a lot of walking and not really getting enough sleep, so the night will do her good. Besides, being out in the cold just takes it out of you.
Tomorrow we are riding the London Eye before they shut it down for maintenance, if it isn’t already shut down because of the weather. Then we will go to Westminster Abbey. We are going to see Billy Elliot tomorrow night which is our big musical show. Should be fun!
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