Stratford Upon Avon, Part One!

Well we had the great opportunity to spend a few days in Stratford Upon Avon. That's a little town about a two hours train ride from London. What's there? Oh..you know, the home of William Shakespeare. It was an amazing trip. I loved the little town, the people in it were so kind, and I loved our Bed & Breakfast that we got to go stay in.

Me and my B&B roommates, Christina, Sophie, and Mary.

Excuse me! I'm trying to Bathe! Yes, with my clothes on apparently!

Nice Roomy bath!

Okay, these beds were so amazing. I haven't laid on anything this soft in weeks. (Since my own bed.) It was like sleeping on a cloud. I wanted to stay there for many more nights and just sleep and sleep and sleep. (our beds back in our London Flats aren't the softest.)

We went to dinner at this amazing Italian Place. I had a chicken and Mushroom Risotto, and even stopped stuffing my face long enough for Christina to get a photo!

When we went to the birthplace of Shakespeare, they had actors who would come out to the garden and recite from Shakespeare's shows. I believe this is when they were performing Romeo & Juliet. As you can see I'm quite bemused amused.

The grave of the poet and playwright, William Shakespeare. Amazing to be there. (Even if his bones are probably gone due to the church being so close to the river. oops.) But his epitaph reads:

GOOD FREND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE TO

DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE. BLEST BE YE MAN YT SPARES THES STONES AND CURST BE HE YT MOVES MY BONES

This was on a memorial for someone, but I thought it was such a beautiful sculpture, I had to take a picture of her. I just was moved by its beauty.

I don't know about you, but I would NEVER trust a boat with that name.

 One of the first folios of Shakespeare's complete work. I was so amazed to see it. After 400 years, we still are performing plays from this book.

 On our way to The Royal Shakespeare Theater to see Merchant of Venice we had to stop at Moo-Moo's to get a Cadbury Creme Egg Milk Shake. Oh. My. Gosh. Divine!

 The show was amazing. And we met Patric Stewart afterwards. He played Shylock. It was such an amazing production, set in Vegas, modern times, it looked at the show in a way I'd never seen it before, and it was phenomenal and fun. And although Patrick Stewart was PHENOMENAL my favorite actor was...

Scott Handy. I've seen him in a few movies, but he was phenomenal in both Merchant of Venice and Macbeth. I couldn't get over what a talented actor this man was. I hope to see him in more productions in my future.

One of the most amazing things about being at the  RSC stomping grounds was being in the same place that My favorite actor of all time started out. I love this man. I worship his talent. I can't tell you how I hope and pray and wish to work with him some day. 

One of the greatest things about theater in London, that you really don't get in the U.S., is that it makes professional theater so Tangible. It makes it seem like a worthy and obtainable goal. 

Just like my mother

My mother is an amazing woman. I am convinced she is the greatest person in the world and definitely the most amazing mother in the world. 

She taught me so much! I remember my first sewing lesson when I was 4 years old, a skill, as a costume designer, I obviously still use to this day. 

She taught me to love my family, and have a great relationship with them. And I do. My family are my favorite people in the whole world.

She taught me to be happy and optimistic, no matter the situation. Even when I get locked on a train in Germany.

She taught me to cook some of the best foods in the world. Monkey bread, French Dip, Homemade Chicken noodle soup, cookie dough, how to steam asparagus, and pepper steak sandwiches.

Ooooh. yeah. Pepper steak sandwiches on whole wheat buns...I decided to make that for dinner.

Oh yeah...

She also taught me to burn anything I try to toast in the oven.

All in all though, I can't think of a greater woman to have as my mother.

Stonehenge ROCKS

 We were taking the train to: salisbury!

Although I felt it more appropriate that I would go somewhere like Dorking

And ladies and gentlemen: There you have it:

 And of course: Proof that I was there!

 I'm more than a pretty face, you guys!

YYYEAAAH! Stonehenge ROCKS!

Cameron, Me, Caroline, and Drew. I promise they're happy to be there. 

But apparently not as happy as I am.

What a cute couple!

 Salisbury is a Medieval town and still retains some of it's original wall:

Salisbury Cathedral is amazing. if you ever go to Stonehenge, i really think you should stop and check out this cathedral. it's HUGE and amazing. Aaaaand: Has the chapter house. you know, the one with the original magna carta? yeah. Totally saw that.

 I once saw a cathedral: THIS BIG

 I'm always so moved by the candles lit in these beautiful cathedrals and chapels. To know that there are that many prayers going out, gives me hope that there is still good and love in the world.

 All in all. Pretty "rockin" day.

The Road goes ever on and on

My favorite part of Oxford was the Eagle and Child Pub. This was the meeting place for the inklings.

The Inklings was an Oxford writers' group which included C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Hugo Dyson. From late 1933, they met on Thursday evenings where they would read and discuss various material, including their unfinished manuscripts. These meetings were accompanied with more informal lunchtime gatherings at various Oxford pubs which coalesced into a regular meeting held on Mondays or Tuesday lunchtimes at the Eagle and Child, in a private lounge at the back of the pub known as the 'Rabbit Room'. It was at one of those meetings in June 1950 that C.S. Lewis distributed the proofs for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

We enjoyed some time in this wonderful building! It was amazing to be somewhere that such beautiful literary minds had met and discussed. In honor of this, our fearless leader, Tim, read to us the lyrics from one of Tolkien's songs.

In western lands

Beneath the sun

The flowers may rise in Spring,

The trees may bud,

The waters run,

The merry finches sing.

Or there may be tis cloudless night

And swaying beeches bear

The Elven stars as jewels white

Amid their branching hair.

Though here at journey's end I lie

In darkness buried deep,

Beyond all towers strong and high,

Beyond all mountains steep,

Above all shadows rides the Sun

And Stars for ever dwell.

I will not say the Day is done,

Nor bid the Stars farewell.

I will not say the Day is done,

Nor bid the Stars farewell.

I will not say the Day is done,

Nor bid the Stars farewell.

Oxford Take 1

We went to Oxford as a class, which was brilliant! I really enjoyed the little town. Unfortunately, half way through the day, I accidentally formatted my camera and lost half of my pictures. But I'm going back tomorrow and will be able to take new ones! :) 

Christ's Church 

I'm a rebel 

 This door coined the phrase I used the rest of the day. "Enough of this Tom Buttery!" 

(Like tom foolery)

I love rose gardens. 

They say if two people kiss under this bridge, then they'll love each other forever. As we were walking under it, my friend Nathaniel run up behind me, kissed me on the cheek and cried "HA! PUNK'D! NOW YOU HAVE TO LOVE ME FOREVER!" 

Science Museum: Includes this: Albert Einstein's board. He gave a lecture at Oxford, and someone had the good sense to keep his chalk board and not erase it.

Just in case you doubted...

"If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare; 

if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; 

if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare;

 if you act more in sorrow than in anger; 

if your wish is farther to the thought; 

if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare;

if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool's paradise -why, be that as it may, the more fool you , for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; 

if you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason, then - to give the devil his due - if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; 

even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, a stony-hearted villain, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then - by Jove! O Lord! Tut tut! For goodness' sake! What the dickens! But me no buts! - it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare." 

— Bernard Levin

On My Walk

 We live extremely close to Hyde Park in London. I love to go on walks there, take a book, lay down, read. It's one of my favorite things to do here. I can't believe how much people love parks here. There's dogs running around everywhere, people walking, sleeping, reading, eating, kissing, touristing, cycling, walking children. So a walk through the park offers some fun sights, as does a walk through the town.

Like a row of people reading books

Children Playing with Dogs

 Memorials and Concert Halls devoted to Prince Albert

Lots of people NOT reading

Gorgeous gardens and walkways

Special nooks and crannies for secret hideaways

Little Boys who don't want to grow up:

Colors, colors, colors

 Pretty little alleyways

And oops...