Stratford upon Avon

By the time we reached Stratford upon Avon, the rain had stopped. We did the whole Shakespeare package today - started with his mother Mary Arden's farm -  a working Tudor farm that featured sheep shearing, a blacksmith at work, and lots of activities for families. Next was Anne Hathaway's cottage, where Shakespeare, 18, wooed the 26 year-old Anne. Then into the centre of town for his birthplace. Since this is a bank holiday that leads into half term for schools, we were warned about big crowds. Our plan was to move in the opposite direction of the crowds - start out of town first, then come into town - seemed to work except for one bus-load of people who stampeded through the birthplace - we decided to just step out of the way and let them rush through. By the time we were through the house, everything was closing but we walked to Holy Trinity Church just in case. We were in time for the bells for the 6:00 service but too late to get into the church to see Shakespeare's grave. The town is filled with tudor style buildings - different from the Cotswold towns we've become familiar with. Still amazing to think of the age of many of the houses - in amazing shape although some of the half-timber exteriors show distinct sagging.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Shakespeare's birthplace

Shakespeare's daughter;s house