Stratford-Upon-Avon

I was kind of disappointed by the lack of theater we’ve gotten to see at the end of this trip. I was really looking forward to seeing real British Shakespearean theater and I saw none. Nonetheless, I’ve gotten to see at least half a dozen monuments to the Bard while in England. I like how he’s usually in a casual, lounging position. Every statue indicates what an intelligent man he was with a keen sense of humor and culture.

If you didn’t know who Shakespeare was, you would know that he was very important because of the way people have taken care of his former homes. His birthplace and “new house” both have lavish gardens that are kept in shape. His actual houses looked much as you would imagine. He was born into moderate wealth so his family always had decent beds which were very expensive at the time. His house also contained a “buttery.” This is not a room to make butter, but a kind of pantry.

I adore the closeness and quietness of Stratford. This town is likely millenia old, yet it has a third the population of Fayetteville and can be circumnavigated on foot in just a couple hours. The streets are full of tourists and talented street performers. I even saw a man posing as a bust of Shakespeare in the street yesterday. Pretty creepy.

The best person we met in Stratford was Sylvia. She was our little guest house manager who had lived in the city since the seventies. She was very cute and quaint with a great sense of humor and arranged us breakfast every morning. The guest house itself was wonderful. It wasn’t as spacious as the one in The Mousetrap but that’s alright. The inside was painted with pretty pastels and hung with beautiful landscapes. There was even a map of the royal lineage that I stared at for a good fifteen minutes. I loved asking the Brits what they thought of the queen and I always received different answers. Our tour guide Molly said on more than one occasion that the queen has “never put a toe our of line.” Meanwhile, others do not really care or think the crown is just a drain on the economy.

But I’m digressing. Back to Stratford. The city itself was very beautiful. At this time of year, the sun set at about 10:30 and rose at 4. I got some great sunset pictures of the swans on the river and the lights of Stratford at dusk. It felt like the golden hour stretched on for two because of the time of year and how far north we were.

We got to see Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is laid to rest. Inscribed on his grave are the words, “Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear, to dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.” This is largely the reason he’s not buried at Westminster Abbey. He wanted to be buried in his hometown so badly that he laid a curse on his grave, if you believe in that thing. British authorities seem to believe it.

Nothing on the London trip compared to the company I had the whole time. I’ve learned so much about acting and poetry and comedy and architecture and food and trees? I appreciate my fellow students’ specialty and willingness to share what they know and love.