Stratford Upon-Avon - Summer 2003

We left Weston-Super-Mare headed for Stratford, the first stop on our way North to Scotland. It was incredibly hot for the UK. Well heck, it was hot for anywhere. The train that goes to Stratford is kind of a rinky dink one and we had to change a couple of times. This day’s trains were all old, none too clean and, naturally, not air conditioned. But we survived. Adventure is what it's all about, isn't it? We arrived at the station and took a cab to our B&B. It was pretty nice for the price and while it was a way out of town, the local bus stopped right across the street. We were all simply wilted so we did not even try to go into the main part of Stratford but instead took showers and Emily and I napped while Kathy took a walk to look around. Later that evening we went downstairs to the restaurant that was attached and had a very credible dinner.

The next morning we caught the local bus and headed into Stratford to see the sights. The town was wall-to-wall tourists everywhere we went. After walking around the main part of town and checking out the shops I decided to relax along the river bank while Kathy and Emily went to see Shakespeare's birthplace and Trinity Church. I supplied myself with some chilled water, a book, rented a lawn chair, and settled down to watch the world go by. Eventually Kathy and Emily made their way back and we all went in search of a good place to eat a combination lunch/dinner. This is a rather hit and miss business with so many places catering to tourists and I am sad to say that the place we decided on was more miss than hit. But it filled the hollow space in our stomachs and wasn't too pricy so I guess we can't complain too much.

We had tickets for Richard III at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and I for one loved it. Shakespeare certainly did a hatchet job on poor old Richard and didn't miss a lick in giving him afflictions and vices. Kathy also enjoyed it but Emily found it a little heavy going I think. But that's OK, it was an experience for her and she can always say that the first time she ever saw Shakespeare performed was at by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford on Avon.

It's lucky we got a good night’s sleep that night because the next morning we were up bright and early to start our trip to Scotland. I will leave the telling of that journey to the next journal.

Emily’s Side of the Story

Got on a train to Stratford-upon-Avon...Got to the B&B and turns out some Japanese lady who had been staying there got our room that we had requested downstairs. So instead we had to take her room which was upstairs..so ONCE again we had to lug our stuff UP STAIRS. Okay, maybe this is my red neck side coming out of me, but if I was a B&B owner and someone REQUESTED a room downstairs and someone else wanted it..oh well, shove it. You have been staying here..and NOW you want to change rooms, well if you wanted one downstairs, then that's what you should have asked for. You can't just TAKE someone's room. It would be different if we hadn't ASKED for one downstairs but we had, or if she had like a broken leg or something..but she didn't. She seemed perfectly normal to me. GRR...Apparently the golden rule doesn’t apply in this country. Ok...I am done complaining for now..haha.

Anyway..It was such a HOT day..We had bad trains...No A/C..I had a migraine and felt like I was going to be sick..We all went up to the room..which was like a 12 by 15...we are being generous here.. bunk beds and a full..I went to sleep..Grams went and took a shower and then went to sleep too. Kathy went around and wandered for about three hours...Then we all had dinner at the B&B restaurant. It was good, I had shank of lamb...dessert was ice cream and it was better :)

Kathy and I toured the city. Went to Holy Trinity church, where Shakespeare and family are buried. Grams chilled in the park, reading. We shopped, then stopped at a pub and ate lunch-lasagna and BLT. Bought some more stuff.."Sod off" pen. Found Grams, ate dinner- stunk. Went to the Royal Shakespeare Theater to see the play Richard III. It was long, boring in parts, interesting in some. Glad I went, but was glad to go to sleep as well.


Link to more pictures of Stratford