2008 - United Kingdom - Day 4 - Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon

We were able to sleep in this morning. Our bus didn’t’ leave until 9:30. We went first to the Warwick Castle. This place was more like an amusement park but without the rides. There were shows every half hour; jousting, sword fighting, birds of prey, Trebuchet, and bow and arrows. We saw three of the shows: jousting, birds of prey (my favorite), and watching the trebuchet shoot off a huge stone. We explored the rooms in the castle. They had it set up with wax people. We also went to the dungeon where they still have torture devices. Very creepy. We also climbed the towers and walked along the ramparts, 533 steps. I’m afraid it wore mom out. But it was cool. We then ate some snacks for lunch on the bus and drove to Stratford-upon-Avon. We walked to a grassy place on the banks of the river. The intent was to sit on the grass and listen to Mike. However, there was so much duck/geese/swan poop everywhere! So we went to the far end where there was a low wall that most people sat on. I think Mike was the only one brave enough to sit on the grass. I went down by the water edge and sat on the edge of the sidewalk, watching people go by on rowboats on the river and the geese kept coming near me, hoping for bread. There were several low hanging willows (my favorite tree) along the banks of the river. It was a perfect scene for Mike’s lecture on Shakespeare. He talked for about 30-40 mins. Then passed out maps of the city and pointed out places to go see and set us loose. First place mom and I went to was the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was buried. Mom had a popsicle so we couldn’t’ go right in. We walked along the perimeter of the church. It was a huge cemetery really. Unfortunately, we couldn’t read most of the dates because they were all eroded over time. Only those 150 years and later were readable. We sat on a bench in the back of the church by the river for awhile. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Inside the chapel was similar to the others we had seen, but not as large. We paid $3 to go see where Shakespeare was buried with his wife and daughter. He wrote a silly prose to be posted on his head stone. We then walked to the birthplace and home of Shakespeare, passing his school along the way. Then mom and I went in search of fish and chips. Well, mom for the fish, not I ? We finally found a place near our meeting point. Mom got her fish n chips and I got a chicken pie and chips. I saved mine till we got back to the hotel. It was soooo yummy.