Week 2 - Stratford Trip

The past three days we travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon and some other areas. We got see the country and my goodness it was gorgeous. I hadn't realized how loud the city is until we were able to be in the peace and quiet.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim palace was finished in around 1731 and it is still the residence for the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. People still live here!! Some of my favorite facts: 

• There was no 2nd Duke of Marlborough. Because the first only had daughters still living, they received special permission for there to be a 2nd Duchess. 
• The ceiling painter (it's in the video) is the same one who painted St. Paul's 
• There's this courting coach that is a love seat with a tiny little separated seat at the end for the escort. I can only imagine how fun that job would be. 
• The dining hall (also in the video) took 16 months to paint; it has a theme of peace. 
• The dispatch the Duke of Marlborough sent stating that they had won the Battle at Blenheim was on the back of a restaurant bill. People are people and have always been people. 
• This is where Winston Churchill proposed to his wife. He took her to Diana's temple (on the grounds) and apparently they sat there for 30 minutes and he still hadn't proposed. Lady Churchill said, "I looked down at the stone floor and noticed a beetle slowly moving across it and thought to myself, 'If that beetle reaches that crack and Winston hasn't proposed, he's not going to." Fortunately, he did it in time.
• When I saw the waterfall, I couldn't help but think, "Why didn't he do it here???" 

This memorial was made for the 1st Duke of Marlborough and his wife for their two sons that died young. 

Waterfalls are my absolute favorite. There was a bridge that I got to stand on and just watch the water as tears of joy streamed down my face.

I was walking down this super long path leading to a cascade. It sounded cool, but for some reason it didn't register what a "cascade" was. The path was winding and winding and then I heard the running water. My heart jumped and I quickly walked/ran until I could see this beautiful waterfall. I had a few minutes alone with the waterfall; it was a moment of pure joy. 

Italian Garden

From the path to the waterfall. 

Kenilworth Castle

Lots of history - but mainly this is where Dudley tried to woo Queen Elizabeth.

Too beautiful a backdrop not to have a mini-modeling session.

Can you see my imaginary medieval gown? 

Stratford-upon-Avon

At Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Inspired by As You Like It, we wrote poems to Rosalind in the forest. 

Obligatory headstand pic

  

We were all so content. 

Becca Stevens does this at all of the restaurants because "water is a scarcity in this country." It's true - water fountains are not a thing here - she's a smart woman. 

They have different kinds of these all over Shakespeare's school, but this one was my favorite. 

This is a list of headmasters from the school where Shakespeare studied. They are still going! They didn't even stop for the wars; it was the same headmaster during WWI and WWII. 

Just pretending. 

I tried their cookies & cream gelato. My absolute favorite c&c gelato is in SLC, so I had to see how this compared. It was super good, but not better than Settebello's (which is actually a relief). 

We saw Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Shakespeare Company. The R&J was not my favorite, but the Macbeth!!! WOW. It was incredible to get to see one of my favorite Shakespeare shows after learning about him all day. 

Tintern Abbey

The pictures speak for themselves. 

Bourton-on-the-Water

Yes, that is the name of the town. 

We stopped at this little village for lunch, and I had my favorite meal of the trip so far at The Croft. This hot chocolate was SO creamy and the baguette's below. Wow. 

Cranberry, bacon, and brie. Yes. 

Isn't Olivia the cutest?

My pink umbrella goes with me everywhere. 

Loved these little cottages. 

This video is mainly shots of Blenheim and Kenisworth. BUT the end has my professor and his wife doing Macbeth at Tintern. We all had to perform our memorized lines there; it's the best backdrop you could ask for. 

xo

Rebecca