On our adventure today, we started by taking the train from Birmingham up to Stratford-Upon-Avon. I have always known how popular the train is for people who live in Britain. Many families were using the tracks to go from town to town instead of driving. Many commute to work using this train. As today was a British bank holiday there were not many commuters. It was very nice to look out and see the British countryside again and saw even more sheep fields! The ride was about an hour but went by relatively fast.
Once we arrived in Stratford-Upon-Avon, we walked downtown. Already at 10 am it was busy and full of life. This town is what I pictured it to look like. All the architecture was beautiful with a mix of gothic buildings, and timber framed 16th century homes. All the stores were very close to the other and had such a quaint feeling to them. Walking through these towns is my favorite because we do not have this style of homes back in my hometown. There is a building on Greensburg campus called Lynch Hall that I kept being reminded of as we walked through the town.
In the center of the town, we had a guided tour. This tour was fun, intriguing, full facts and very knowledgeable. My favorite parts included when our tour guide recited Shakespeare from memory. We visited the Holy Trinity Anglican Church where Shakespeare was buried. It is said that he is only buried three feet deep, something I found shocking. After that he took us throughout the city where we saw many buildings that were built during this time and were part of his day-to-day life. There are many monuments around that were of him and his characters.
During our lunch break, we eat at a little cafe where I had a Greek Salad then walked down to get gelato. After lunch we were just enjoying what was around the city and looking at the shops. Since it was a bank holiday there was a street fair bustling full of people. It was great to walkthrough and see the art vendors. It had the same feel as a state fair in the United States. After this walking we stopped at a McDonald’s which was three levels and had to entrances. This was super different from how ours are set up in the states. Of course we stopped at a Tesco to get some British snacks, while I was there a Scottish man recommended, I try Irn Bru which is sometimes referred to as “the other national drink of Scotland”.
After our lunch break, we met up outside the Shakespeare Centre. In the Shakespeare Centre were artifacts rich in history. This is run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Fund. Their knowledge was incredible and included tours of Joan Hart’s Cottage which was the family home. Joan Hart was Shakespeare’s youngest sister who rented the family with her husband later. They have added on to create the museum, but many pieces were original. It was great to walk through as this was similar to a living museum where you are transported back in time.
We finished our night with a train ride back to Birmingham and dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. I ordered the Chicken Pho and for desert after snacked on a few British snack in the hotel. Tomorrow starts our days at the University, and I am very much looking forward to learning a ton of new things!