Stratford-upon-Avon

While there are some serious gaps in this blog, like what our flat is like, how daily life is here, Nick’s company and job, Lauren’s job hunt, etc., were are going to have to save all this for future posts and at least get through the pictures we have posted to date on our photo album. You, the blog-reading community, will have to wait in eager suspense for a post on some of the things above.

Right, so Stratford-upon-Avon, Bill Shakespeare country… After a few weeks of city living, we were missing green and open air, so one Saturday we took the train about 45 minutes south to the town of Stratford on the Avon river, birthplace of William Shakespeare. The town is exactly what you would picture an idyllic English town to be: There are quaint shoppes (sic) and narrow streets with some thatched roofs and lots of taverns and inns. The main attraction in town is a series of houses where Shakespeare grew up, lived, visited, did shingling work, etc. We made it to the three houses in the town center including The Birthplace, Hall’s Croft (his daughter’s house), and Nash House (the home of his granddaughter and next to the remains of Shakespeare’s adult home).

After the house tours and having learned quite a bit about the bard, we got lunch at a street fair from a Frenchman who didn’t speak English, other than to say ‘Bon Appetit’ when our crepes were done. After eating, we walked down to the river area which is beautiful, and there is plenty of entertainment as people awkwardly bang down the river in rented row boats. The town was formed thanks to a bridge built there in the 1400s, with the bridge-builder gaining fame and fortune, the respect due someone of his craft. We got coffee at a table on the riverbank, and just enjoyed being outside on a rare warm and clear day. Take a look at our pictures from the trip for more! This would definitely be a great and easy day trip for any visitors ;-).