Posing at the train station!

Today was my second day exploring Birmingham with my friends! Our day started bright and early at 8:00 am with a fresh English breakfast at our hotel. The coffee machine was definitely a level up from anything I have experienced back at home. I was satisfied with the breakfast as we left for the train station. We had a little detour to a different train station which was actually fun because we all got to see Ozzy the Bull again! 

My ticket to board

Once we arrived at the train station, we got our tickets and boarded to make our way over to Stratford-Upon-Avon. The ride lasted around an hour and we all kept good conversation to pass the time. 

Nikayla and I at the final train stop

Stratford was like a dream. It is a gorgeous classic England area. It is also a main tourist area due to the fact that William Shakespeare was born there. We began our  tour for the day around 9:30 as we saw the beautiful water in the town. We continued to walk past a famous theater and a building that was designed by the first woman architect in Birmingham, Elizabeth Scott. 

Welcome to Stratford-Upon-Avon!

The next major place we got to explore was the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried. The church was ethereal. The stained glass was absolutely gorgeous and my favorite part of the church. We got to see where Shakespeare and his wife, Ann, are buried. Shakespeare has a monument within the church that was requested by his wife that is supposed to accurately represent him. The quill within his stone hands gets replaced once a year on his birthday, April 23rd. Once we left that area of the church, we were taken to another chapel. This chapel in particular;lar was a gift to the church from America. When we exited the church, we saw a door handle in which many people who were on the run from the law could be provided with safety from the church by reaching the door. One fun fact I learned is that a graveyard is when people are laid to rest in the yard of a church, and a cemetery is when a random place is designated for burials. 

The Holy Trinity Church

Once we left the church, we ventured the streets of Stratford and looked at multiple staples of the town. We saw Ann Hathaway’s house which is located down the street from the Shakespeare’s. We also passed many pubs and restaurants that were memorable. The group then split off for two hours of free time to explore and grab lunch.

The water and bridge it Stratford

I went to a little restaurant with my friend Nikayla where we got Bree sandwiches with tap water (the best water in the UK). We then proceeded to explore the three streets that make up Stratford-Upon-Avon. Some of the shops were closed because of the time of day. However, today happened to be a bank holiday therefore, there was a fair set up at the end of the town! 

My lunch today!

After our break, we met at Shakespeare’s birthplace in order to go on a tour through the house! We got to see the bedrooms and cooking area. I also learned that the bed mattresses were made out of hay that needed to be fluffed every night before sleep for an optimal rest. This is where the expression “hitting the hay” originates from! People would use a thick stick to hit the hay before they went to sleep on it. Charles Dickens also visited his home in 1838, and he fought for the campaign to save his house for the nation. I was not aware of the connection between many of the great writers we hear about in the present day such as Dickens’s influence by Shakespeare. 

Jocey and I in THE William Shakespeare’s house

The last activity we had was watching a live take at part of Shakespeare’s plays. The performers put on a part of Hamlet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, and they incorporated volunteers into the plays!

The burial site of Shakespeare

We made our way home by train and then headed over to dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. I got jasmine rice with chicken and vegetable soup. The food was delicious, and the dinner talk was exceptionally funny. 

My amazing Vietnamese dinner!

I had yet another amazing day here in the UK! Thank you for checking in! 🙂