Paying tribute to the Bard

Last Saturday I fulfilled a lifelong dream--I got to go to Stratford-upon-Avon and see where Shakespeare lived and died.

I love Shakespeare. I've loved his works for a long time--since elementary school, certainly. I still remember performing Much Ado About Nothing in 6th grade. My Shakespeare course at BYU was one of my favorites. I mean, I know that there will always be controversy and mystery surrounding the Bard, but I will always love him. Even when I have creepy dreams about Titus Andronicus. 

It was a perfect day to go to Stratford-upon-Avon--clear and cold and no tourists (except us). And I went with great friends.

"But, soft! What light from yonder window breaks? It is the east . . ." 

aka we are all babes. 

[Anne Hathway's cottage. No, not the actress. Shakespeare's wife.]

[more of the cottage. and my face.]

"We few. We happy few. We band of [sisters]." 

Plus Joe. He was kind enough to put up with all of us. Watch. He and Emily are going to have all daughters. And this will just have been preparation for him. You're welcome. 

[Shakespeare's birthplace.]

[The Old Bank. But not as old as Shakespeare.]

[Breakfast at the cafe.]

[The church where Shakespeare is buried.]

[Isn't it beautiful?]

[Love that stained glass.]

[The Bard himself.]

"I count myself in nothing else so happy

As in a soul remembering my good friends."

"I'll break my staff, bury it certain fathoms in the earth, and deeper than did ever plummet sound, I'll drown my book." 

[An original King James Version of the Bible. Just hanging out in the church.]

Jessica and I found dress-ups. So obviously we had to try them on. "Reason not the need." It had to happen. 

[We have never looked so beautiful.]

And then we all went for a walk along the Avon. And somehow these pictures happened. I'm not exactly sure how or why. But I am glad they did. 

"All the world's a stage. And the men and women merely players." 

"What fools these mortals be!" 

 All in all, really good day. And as an added bonus, we got to see Briana unexpectedly (who just randomly also happened to be in Stratford-upon-Avon and on the High Street just as we passed by), and we stopped by Warwick Castle. We would have stayed longer but we had to get the rental car back to Oxford.

"Warwick Castle will stand without you." Just in case you were wondering. 

Hurray for day trips and Shakespeare and friends and sunny days in England. 

"If this be magic, let it be an art as lawful as eating." 

(Brownie points if you can name all of the quotes--including the Warwick Castle one.)