Stratford upon Avon: Still Bustling in Celebration of Shakespeare

Stratford Upon Avon.

Follow the Avon north and we arrive at the birthplace of William Shakespeare! The town's character is alive, busy--still bustling in celebration of the iconic author, actor, and playwright himself. To walk through the town, following in his brilliant footsteps, is exhilarating. To visit his childhood home helps to form an idea of the boy he was and the man he became. I am especially drawn to the window pane, once outside his bedroom--visited and engraved by other famous writers such as Charles Dickens, John Keats, Walter Scott and Thomas Hardy. It is obvious how the richness of his work and the impact of the his language has truly changed the world.

Just a bit of the words he coined 

Shakespeare's bedroom window engraved by so many famous authors who visited 

Shakespeare's bedroom as a boy

The burial site at the Holy Trinity Church is quiet, calm and a place that centers me. The stained-glass allows color to trickle into shadows and the engravings in the window also illustrate the long-lasting power of story. Outside, in the cemetery, I am followed by ideas--Shakespearian ghosts and words that live in the air around me. Spooked and honored all at once.

Bath: Lasting Mystery, Forever Stories

The Roman Baths take my breath away once again. Eerie and full of ancient stories. Prayers and curses--requests for the goddess of Minerva for revenge, redemption, and support. Astounding Roman technology--aqueducts and saunas. Emerald water. A place of healing. A place of death. A drink from the deep in the Earth-- hot and metallic. Lasting mystery--forever stories.

The love of family, a welcomed respite and refreshing cider at the Abbey Hotel. A walk along the Avon--dark and hidden pathways. The abbey's brightness shines--its stronghold illuminated at midnight.

Peace and Magic in Avebury

Quick yet calm, a perfect day through fields and sun. Searching for faces in the circle of stones, we meander the pathways that ground us to the earth and blend us with the turquoise sky. Ancient words float on the sky. Words that remind us of ancient stories and belief.

Windsor Wishes

Windsor Wishes

I didn't fully expect the plushness of Windsor Castle. Pristine gardens. Regal air. In The Hall of Crests, symbolic crests surround the room, each to honor a knight that helped restore English rule after Napoleon. The 007 theme echoes through the castle during the changing of the guard-- reminding us of the mix of past and present.

Set in the town of Eaton, we discovered the most royal candy shop ever...Hardy's Original Sweetshop where we tasted heaven on earth... Honeycomb bites! Plus an Eaton Mess candy bar...named after the delicious and local  dessert of strawberries and whip cream! LOVE

A Jaunt through London

To capture the richness of London is just a few words? A mere impossibility. To highlight a few moments? Attainable.

Westminster Abbey. Dark and calm. A resting place that honors the brilliant minds in Poet's Corner--Chaucer, Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis, Tennyson and Ben Johnson plus homage to scientific innovators like Newton and Darwin...the list goes on to include statues of the 10-modern day martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for their beliefs, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. To walk amongst the memories of these masters of thoughts and words is completely inspirational. I walk with a hope that with every step, I gain a bit more wisdom and enlightenment--and courage to change the world as they did.

The Churchill War Rooms. A fascinating trek into the underground complex that housed the British command center during World War II. The air is heavy and thick--and the darkness of war still lives in the dank aroma that lingers. One can feel the realness and severity of the decisions made there. The dedication and loss and sacrifice all felt with every breath. The question "When is war justified?" flashes through my head over and over again. I am in awe of those who were brave enough. Courageous enough to take a stand during such an unspeakably horrific time.  By the end, I am able to walk away more understanding of Winston Churchill, the intense commander, the painter and lover of books. I find layers again here--brushstrokes that I am grateful for.

Churchill's painting frock and pallette 

Throughout London, we have an obsession with red telephone boxes and umbrellas. We stroll through a sprinkling of rain through Windsor Gardens. A glossy pond. Mama swan and her fuzzy gray ugly ducklings. Tree branches dripping down around us. Their arms swaying and welcoming us into the enchantment.

Phone box obession