Over THE POND and on the train . . . to Stratford we will go!

Yes, we're here! Check out the pictures to prove it! You can double-click on any picture to make it bigger for better viewing.

After a not-very-eventful or restful 8 hour plane ride, we arrived in

a foggy but surprisingly warm London early.

Customs was a breeze, and we handled 2 train rides and another transfer from Paddington on the tube to a lovely Marylebone Station to board the train to Stratford-on-Avon.


We had an hour to kill at Marlyebone where we enjoyed our first English meal--a delicious West Cornwall chicken and veggie pastry--complete with swarms of pigeons to pick up the scraps.


We were so happy at how warm the weather is here, and just as the sun broke through, we boarded the Chilton train for a two hour ride across the sheep-laden English countryside! Apparently, the autumn color change hasn't occurred yet due to an unusually cool summer. We met June, a woman who lived in Stratford a few years ago and who was lucky enough to get tickets last November for Hamlet and shared many stories about seeing past Shakespeare productions with "Kenny" Branagh and Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan. Linda loved chatting with her about her thoughts on the authorship controversy (whether a glover's son from Stratford named William Shakespeare--could have possibly written the 37 amazing plays only a genius and member of the royal court might possibly written). She laughed and snickered about those Americans who like to drum up controversy amid her many repetitions of "rubbish." We're going to try to visit her in her prestigious seats in the "stalls" at Hamlet tomorrow night


We arrived in Stratford about 5:30 very excited!







Can you tell?

Even though it was not too fun lugging suitcases and such down centuries-old narrow streets, we saw an occasion spot we just had to stop and rest (and photograph) like "Hamlet's House"--a bed and breakfast!

Then we set out in search of the Salamander Guest House on Grove Street.

We ended up talking for 1/2 hour outside the Salamander with a charming American guest, Brent, from California who was also here to see Hamlet. What a fascinating story he had to tell. Aside from his tips on sightseeing in Stratford, he filled us in on his 5 month adventure in Great Britain, and we shared with him news about the election drama (little of which the British press had been mentioning), the economic crisis, and the current dip in gas prices! Fun conversation!

Once in the bed and breakfast, we met our host, Pascal, and his daughter who showed us our cozy accommodations upstairs and shared plenty of ideas for things to do tomorrow.

We were surprised that gets dark about 7:00, so we rested briefly and set out for the Courtyard Theatre where the Royal Shakespeare Company's Hamlet is being performed. We wanted to pick up our tickets for tomorrow night to make sure all was in order, buy our programs to read ahead of time, and, of coure, scope out the gift store--Uh Oh! Yep, Wally (Linda) went nuts.

Next door is a century old pub called the Dirty Duck where we enjoyed a late dinner of tomato basil soup and quite delectable (9th grade vocab word!) lamb shank! Check out their blackboard with the "Dirty Duck" holding a scull and the "to eat or not to eat" quote.

We were surrounded by Shakespeare quotes all over the walls including a very serendipitous quote from Macbeth "Out, out brief candle"! Can you believe it, Adv. 12-ers? We just studied that quote last week in class!


Before we left, everyone told us we had to check out the pub next door where pictures of famous actors who had eaten there were on the walls. Sir Laurence Olivier was the most prestigious.


After walking back on the cobblestoned streets and seeing the multitude of half-timbered houses,


we went back to the Salamander, figured out how to get the WiFi working (We really needed you, Robby) and planned tomorrow's adventure. We couldn't wait to see everything in the daylight. By the way, Lauren, Kelly, and Carina, we are scoping out the latest teenage fashions over here, and will keep you posted. Chris, we saw a shop by Marylebone Station called "Chris and Paul(a)'s! Oops! Forgot to take a picture!

So, that was our day! More tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow . . .