Journey Log 5: Stratford-on-Avon and Oxford
Stratford-on-Avon
It was very rainy and cold. There seems to have been some confusion in the British Bovine Meterology Department -- half the cows are standing -- half are laying about.
Had lunch with Tim's dad and Tim when we got to Stratford. Afterwards, Tim and I had no choice but to buy something warmer to wear, so now, as the complete dorks that we are, we both own grey fleece jackets. We walked along the Avon, which isn't the name of the river, it just means river. First, we saw the massive Shakespeare statue w/ four characters from his plays.
There are tons of swans in England, which I found out is because, swan's are the Queen's bird and due to some edict from the 1100's killing a swan is probably punishable by not so pleasant means. Swans are so beautiful, but are really nasty.
We stopped by a brass rubbing shop because we had to wait to get into the Cathedral when Shakespeare is buried because someone was getting married there. I bought two celtic designed brass rubbings, which I need to get framed.
So, finally we proceeded to the Holy Trinity Church where Shakepeare is buried. It was an exquisite church. I find it annoying when you can't take pictures in some and can in others.
Most of the "historic" sites are fabricated as Tim's dad explained,they really have no idea where Shakepeare was born or where Ann Hathaway's cottage was, so they just picked a pretty house and called it that. We also passed a cemetary connected to the church and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Oxford
Oxford is absolutely lovely. I think that i want to live here some day. The architecture alone is astonishing. Tim's dad gave us the quick walking tour through the intermittent rain. I even saw the sun for a whole two seconds. Oxford, as well as many other things was established during the 1100's. Tim's dad showed us Lincoln College where he went. Also saw the college where Bill Clinton went and Chelsea now goes to. I think its called Radcliffe, its near the Bodelian Library and the Radcliffe Camera.
Unfortuntely, the Carfax Abbey was closed on Mondays. poot! I shopped a bit of course.
We also saw Alice's Garden, which apparently was where Lewis Carroll did the first reading of Alice in Wonderland.
Oxford is the ultimate college town which all American college towns try to mimic but fail inevitably. I found it odd that they have exam halls where all of the grades are publically posted, how embarassing if you don't do well. No hiding your grades from mummy and daddy. They also post the grades in the London Times.
Ploot! Tim just realized that he forgot to show me where Monty Python filmed the Fish-Slapping Dance skit.
We went to the pub again afterwards....Stay tuned for journies to Cheddar...
It was very rainy and cold. There seems to have been some confusion in the British Bovine Meterology Department -- half the cows are standing -- half are laying about.
Had lunch with Tim's dad and Tim when we got to Stratford. Afterwards, Tim and I had no choice but to buy something warmer to wear, so now, as the complete dorks that we are, we both own grey fleece jackets. We walked along the Avon, which isn't the name of the river, it just means river. First, we saw the massive Shakespeare statue w/ four characters from his plays.
There are tons of swans in England, which I found out is because, swan's are the Queen's bird and due to some edict from the 1100's killing a swan is probably punishable by not so pleasant means. Swans are so beautiful, but are really nasty.
We stopped by a brass rubbing shop because we had to wait to get into the Cathedral when Shakespeare is buried because someone was getting married there. I bought two celtic designed brass rubbings, which I need to get framed.
So, finally we proceeded to the Holy Trinity Church where Shakepeare is buried. It was an exquisite church. I find it annoying when you can't take pictures in some and can in others.
Most of the "historic" sites are fabricated as Tim's dad explained,they really have no idea where Shakepeare was born or where Ann Hathaway's cottage was, so they just picked a pretty house and called it that. We also passed a cemetary connected to the church and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Oxford
Oxford is absolutely lovely. I think that i want to live here some day. The architecture alone is astonishing. Tim's dad gave us the quick walking tour through the intermittent rain. I even saw the sun for a whole two seconds. Oxford, as well as many other things was established during the 1100's. Tim's dad showed us Lincoln College where he went. Also saw the college where Bill Clinton went and Chelsea now goes to. I think its called Radcliffe, its near the Bodelian Library and the Radcliffe Camera.
Unfortuntely, the Carfax Abbey was closed on Mondays. poot! I shopped a bit of course.
We also saw Alice's Garden, which apparently was where Lewis Carroll did the first reading of Alice in Wonderland.
Oxford is the ultimate college town which all American college towns try to mimic but fail inevitably. I found it odd that they have exam halls where all of the grades are publically posted, how embarassing if you don't do well. No hiding your grades from mummy and daddy. They also post the grades in the London Times.
Ploot! Tim just realized that he forgot to show me where Monty Python filmed the Fish-Slapping Dance skit.
We went to the pub again afterwards....Stay tuned for journies to Cheddar...