WHEE!

[hils]

Well, I don't know what Google was on but they claimed it would take me an hour to walk from my hotel to the theatre. It takes 15 minutes. Less than that just to get into town.

Had a little wander around this evening and just about exploded from squee.

When I first arrived in Stratford I was a little disappointed that the first things I saw were a Morrisons and a construction site. Really, not what I was expecting

The town centre, though, is EXACTLY what I was expecting. Lots of old buildings, a pretty river, it's perfect. I'm going to be a total tourist tomorrow and go to all the Shakespeare places. I accidentally found the foundations of a house it is believed Shakespears father owned, just by wandering to the theatre. LOL!

I hope the weather is good tomorrow. I've already taken a couple of photos

I would really love to find time to do some writing tomorrow. It just feels like something I should do while I'm here.

*is excited*

Comments

[notsowise-sage.livejournal.com]

I want to go back to Stratford - I've only been once, and that was for a conference, with no time of my own to explore.

I might just take a random holiday there.

It's there or Shrewsbury, but that's for the Cadfael walks.

[hils.livejournal.com]

If I don't get time to see everything tomorrow I'm definitely coming back

[notsowise-sage.livejournal.com]

I bet everything looks fantastic.

I'd love to sit down by the river and write poetry - maybe even push the boat out and go for some sonnets. That would be fantastic.

Of course there's more than just Shakespeare, there's the Austen connections too.

I wished I'd booked to stay the night in Stratford after the sales conference ended. Ah well.

[hils.livejournal.com]

There's Austen connections? Bzuh? I thought she was from further down south. I've visited the place where she's buried and the house where she died.

[notsowise-sage.livejournal.com]

She was born, and lived in the South - however her family is from Stratford Upon Avon, and she spent time at Stoneleigh Abbey when her second cousion inherited the estate. A lot of the details in her books come from that house, and her family.

Apparently it's magnificent to go in, it's pretty much remained unchanged two hundred years.

[hils.livejournal.com]

Sadly it's a bit out of the way. If only I had a car :(

[notsowise-sage.livejournal.com]

Aye - maybe next time you go, you'll have a car, or could rent one :)

[hils.livejournal.com]

Yeah, have to wait a year before I'm allowed to rent a car :(

[notsowise-sage.livejournal.com]

That sucketh dearly. I really need to get my arse in gear and sort out my CBT, and theory test - then I can ride my way round.

Seems like an awesome idea to get a big road hog bike, and just power down the motor ways, and on to b-roads, then coast it through places like Stratford seeing the sites.

What I'll actually be doing is getting a tiny bike, and not going anywhere to start with (not allowed on motorways with just a CBT).

[hils.livejournal.com]

You're braver than me. You'd have to pay me to ride a bike, especially on the motorways. It's scary enough in a car

[gillo]

It's gorgeous, though you can't see round all of it. I went there with a school party - I live very close by - a couple of years ago.

[padfoot-uk.livejournal.com]

Bloody place.

I used to live just down t'road, and it's always full of bloody tourists...

[padfoot-uk.livejournal.com]

PS: enjoy yourself!!

[hils.livejournal.com]

I'll do my best!

[hils.livejournal.com]

Hehe! Like me! *g*

[gillo]

I live just up t'road, in Kenilworth, and avoid it like the plague in peak tourist season, so I know whereof you speak.

[dj-intheuk.livejournal.com]

sounds like your having fun. Am going next month, can't wait even if I have been before! Oh and random non-Shakespeare fact for you - apparently Simon Pegg went to school in Stratford-Upon-Avon somewhere to study acting when he was just 16 before going to uni :)

[hils.livejournal.com]

How cool!

[gillo]

Do make sure you go to Hall's Croft, which is slightly further out - quite close to Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare and his family are buried in the swankiest locations in the place. It's worth getting to the Birthplace early if you plan to do that one, before the tourist hordes get there and it's impossible to breathe.

I hope the weather is reasonable - some of the places have lovely gardens, even if they are digging up the area by the theatre. Don't forget to have a drink at the Black Swan, aka the Dirty Duck, neatly between the old theatre and the Courtyard. It's where a lot of the actors hang out after the show...

Have fun. I thought it was stupendous and my students still haven't stopped squeeing!

[hils.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to do one of those handy bus tours that take you everywhere. Thankfully the birthplace is quite near my hotel so I shall be heading there first

[spikewriter]

If you get to Holy Trinity, don't just focus on Shakespeare's grave -- there are some very lovely funerary monuments in the side chapels.

[hils.livejournal.com]

I'll be sure to take a look. Thanks!

[whatiusedtobe.livejournal.com]

*is jealous*

[hils.livejournal.com]

Aww!

[ender24]

glad to hear that you are having a good time :D

[hils.livejournal.com]

I sure am!