I wasn't very adept at understanding the works of William Shakespeare while in high school so I carried a bit of ambivalence within me as we visited his home: Stratford-Upon-Avon. Avon is the river which runs through the area. Stratford itself is an ancient town (Shakespeare was at his prime in the early 17th century) that was been largely rebuilt in the 19th century. Even so, I was able to visit Holy Trinity Church which houses his tomb along with that of his wife, Ann Hathaway, and some of their other relatives. Her thatched-roof cottage can still be seen on the other side of town and Shakespeare's place of birth is another tourist site. As you might guess, Stratford has several theatres including the old Shakespearean theatre which still produces plays throughout the year. There are also smaller, more contemporary theatres that run shows as well. The city is very colorful with river boats, barges and smaller vessels moving gracefully along the Avon River.
Another site we visited (that is less known) is the Coldswals. This area of green rolling hills, valleys, and rivers is really the heart of England. Several smaller towns can be visited along the motorway (highway): Bourton-On-The-Water, Moreton-On-The-Marsh and other interestingly named places. Each of them is really quaint. What the Coldswals are really known for, however, is that all the homes and places of business are made of coldswal stone-- a yellowish limestone that is native to the area.
Our final stop was in a small town named Broadway. True to the sound of its name, this town is home to many British celebrities-- most of whom I have never heard of! I could see huge castle-style structures off in the hills which would put the nicest homes in Fresno to shame. I can only imagine what the cost of such homes might be. Everything is fairly expensive here in England.
As I begin my fourth week of sabbatical, I am sensing that time is flying by. I look forward to sharing with you more places of interest in the weeks to come!
