Stratford-upon-Avon

Penshurst Market 

William Shakespeare's Birthplace

I was locked out of school over the weekend, so there was only one thing to do:  travel!  I decided on the spur-of-the moment to drive to Stratford-upon-Avon.  Thanks to the internet, I got play tickets and hostel reservations, so after the farmer's market on Saturday morning (okay, I love my Auburn market by the scenic courthouse, but the Penshurst market is by a castle!)  I headed off to the land of Shakespeare.  First stop, Shakespeare's birthplace.  It's right in the cute part of Stratford.  I got a pass to see 5 historic places in Stratford, which is good for a year, but I got to all of them in 2 days.  That first evening I went to a fun performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream in a small attic theater.  The next day I started off at Anne Hathaway's Cottage.  It's a lovely place with beautiful gardens, including an enchanted woods that my Niwana friends will liken to our Fairy Forest.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Fairy Forest

Me at Anne's Cottage

Then I went to Mary Arden's Farm.  Mary Arden was Shakespeare's mother, and he spent much of his time here as a boy.  It's a fun place with lots of animals and activities,such as a falconry show and archery.  

Cooking at Mary Arden's Farm

Putting my archery skills to the test.
I did get an "A" in archery in college, not that I was accurate,
but my teacher said she graded on spirit,
 and evidently I have the spirit for archery!

Falconry Show

Then I went to New Place, Shakespeare's adult home, Hall's Croft, the home of one of Shakespeare's daughters, and Nash's House, the home of one of his granddaughters.  After following the Shakespeare trail this far, of course I had to go to Trinity Church to see William's and Anne's burial places.    

Shakespeare's Burial Place at Holy Trinity Church

I ended my trip by going to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform The Comedy of Errors, which was fabulous!  I sat in the very front row and had an awesome view of the stage which was set on a giant aquarium of sorts, and at times when the actors ran near me the water would splash over the sides and onto my feet.  Let me conclude with a line from this play:

I to the world am like a drop of water

That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself. (1.2.36)