Visiting the land of the Bard | Stratford-upon-Avon! Part 1

 

The home of the Hathaway family, Shakespeare's in-laws. It is known today as Anne Hathaway's Cottage.

2015 England Trip Travel Journal Entry

Saturday, March 14

Logistics: 

Marylebone selfie!

1. The Tube from Stockwell Station to Charing Cross Station on the Northern Line 
2. Continuing on the Tube from Charing Cross Station to Marylebone Station on the Bakerloo Line
3. The train to Stratford-upon-Avon

(10:40 AM) Staying up late last night was worth it since we only had 40 minutes to get out of the door. Pre-making breakfast was a life saver... We certainly made it in exact time to Marylebone Station - in time to get a coffee and not to have to run to the train. And even get a selfie! :)

I was afraid I would regret leaving London, even for a day, but now going to the country truly sounds refreshing. London is tiring, especially when you're out and about all day, surrounded by crowds, cars, noise and just a busy working world. It may not be so exhausting  just living there, not trying to pack so much into every day, but I'm now not sure if I would enjoy living in London as

much as I thought. We'll see.

Spending a few moments admiring Marylebone Station and getting excited by the poster of the play we are going to see!

The home of the Shakespeare family in 1564 when Will was born.

(1:25 PM) We have quite a lovely view for lunch: Shakespeare's birthplace. :) We're staying warm in their cafe next door, pulling out our own lunch and drinking their warming liquids (tea and coffee, of course), for it is bone-chillingly cold outside - at least to a Cali girl like me.

"Be large in mirth. Anon we'll drink a measure \ The table round." And we were drinking our tea very mirthfully. ;)

"I would I were at home." But at Shakespeare's home. :)

"When daffodils begin to peer..." in the garden of Shakespeare's Birthplace.

The original part of the house with the glove-making shop and kitchen downstairs, and bedrooms upstairs.

This was added a bit later, and Shakespeare lived her a while with his wife and family.

(11:43 PM) It was too short! It felt like there was not way the play could be over already, even though they said seemingly every line. It's just a mark of a well-done performance, I guess. What a Shakespearean day we have had! His birthplace, the Hathaways' cottage, the RSC - and every one of them with a shop bursting from all the Shakespeare memorabilia. And objects with quotes are my one weakness...

We had a sweet guide for the birthplace - once we got in with our 2-for-the-price-of-one deal thanks to some very nice and helpful workers behind the ticket desk. My "passport" for a free 5-house pass on my Shakespeare app apparently couldn't be used with an online ticket (which we had already bought). But they finagled something and gave us the deal anyway. :)

The kitchen of the Shakespeare's home.

The Shakespeare boys' room: William, Gilbert, Edmund and Richard. They got the fireplace.

 We found an alternate route to Anne Hathaway's cottage after being redirected by a nice mom out walking with her baby. It's just cutting through Stratford-upon-Avon College and a neighborhood, then you're simply directed by many convenient signs. What a lovely place it was!

The Hathaway cottage.

Twenty years ago Mom and I stood in front of the replica built near Victoria, British Columbia. Special times! :)

The kitchen in the Cottage.

"Suffer love? A good epithet." :)

The garden, orchard and forest walk were particularly pleasant, especially once the sun came out, giving everything a golden glow! We took a rather confusing way back to the town center, but we at last got to our B&B to deposit our extra gear. Then we were off to the theater!

The Woodland Walk. It felt like being in the Forest of Arden.

"Daffodils, / That come before the swallow dares, and take / The winds of March with beauty;"

Our first steak and kidney pudding. Definitely recommend.

Well, we had to find somewhere to eat among the numerous pubs, first. Around the corner from the theater is The Golden Bee, and they have a brilliant deal of two entrees for nine pounds. We both got steak and kidney pudding with peas, chips and gravy, which arrived very quickly. Mom had gone to ask if it would arrive soon, and it came once she had left. :) It was scrumptious! British food at its best.




Next time: the play... 



© 2015 Anna Morton