A Day of Shakespeare

This leg of our trip was winding down, and we could really feel our enthusiasm flagging. The family discussion on the coach to York yesterday revealed that only N was really eager to visit any of the Shakespeare sites, or do the optional schoolhouse tour. (Until Darren announced there'd be scones at the end of the tour...then I perked up.) However, we were really determined that everyone in the family should get to see and enjoy whatever part of the trip they could, and so we all agreed to go along with N. Boy howdy, we were glad we did in the end! This day brought several pleasantly unexpected memories!

We had an earlier-than-usual start to the day, with our "bags out and breakfast" scheduled for 7am, and the bus departed York at 8am. The trip between cities was fairly short, and I don't think we even stopped for anything...maybe there was a quick bathroom break at a rest stop but nothing picture-worthy. :)

When we arrived in Stratford-Upon-Avon, we were given a brief walking tour so Darren could show us where we had to meet to start our tour of Shakespeare's home and gardens, and then we were left on our own to shop and explore. 

We wandered up and down the quaint town street, reading menus on restaurants (and finding even more Harry Potter themed stores) until we settled on a place where we could all find something to eat for lunch. We chose an outdoor table to soak up the sun and ambience. Zero regrets.

I didn't realize the clouds looked so ominous in this picture. It was sunny most of the time, I remember!

After eating, we met outside of Shakespeare's home for our included tour. Without a castle on the schedule today, we got a "really old building" selfie instead!

We worked our way through the outside garden, first.

Right before entering the house was this really old and "delicate" tree with such an interesting trunk that I had to take a picture to share. The sign reads "I am old and fragile, please do not shake my branches." Same, tree. Same.

Inside the building we got to see how the family would have furnished their home, and how they joined together what was originally 2 buildings into one. I didn't realize we were allowed to take pictures until the second-last room. 😝 

I'll bug the rest of my family for more pictures, if they have any. Check the link at the end of this post!

Immediately after finishing this tour, a small section of our tour group proceeded to the optional tour of the schoolhouse where Shakespeare studied as a boy. We watched a short film about the society that preserves the location, and then were taken upstairs to "meet the schoolmaster", and sit in the very room where Shakespeare and his contemporaries sat for lessons.

Then we moved next door to where the "younger" students were taught, and had our snack of scones and champagne. We got to try on clothes from the era - or as we call it, SCA garb - and try to write calligraphy with quills. 

Then we got to explore one or two final rooms in the building, which were used as town meeting rooms as well as a school.  Here again I got to see the remnants of painted walls that just continue to amaze me.

The actual wall shown in the paintings above.

We finished up all our touring around 4:30pm, and then walked the block or two over to our hotel. This building itself was over 400 years old. Curt and I absolutely loved the whole place. It had such fabulous details, and the rooms were spacious and clean, and really modern despite the age of the building!

N, however, has the exact opposite opinion. She was certain that there was a "spirit" in her room, watching her sleep all night, and she did not enjoy that experience at all!! LOL Who can blame her?

But ghosts or no, the building itself was really cool. Here are a few highlights of the lobby, hallways and rooms.

We say farewell to Trafalgar

Our evening ended with the formal "Farewell Dinner" of the tour. We got a delicious 3 course meal, with 2 free beers each, to say our good-byes to our travel director and tour companions. I can't say we made any fast friends out of this group, although I believe that S did connect with the other two "under 20's" on Instagram. Nevertheless, it was a nice time, and I just realized that we never got the group photo Darren took of us and I need to bug him for that!

If I get more pictures, they'll go here: https://link.shutterfly.com/SegVo4dy4rb