I started off today by getting up, having breakfast, and taking a nap. Several nights of not sleeping exceptionally well finally caught up and I enjoyed my extra hour of shut-eye.
We were not on a tight schedule today as the only thing on the list was Stratford-upon-Avon, which is the next large town over from Warwick. After getting into town, we just missed the city tour bus and after discovering it was only running every hour, we started walking down the Avon, then discovered a little river boat offering half hour cruises. It was slow and pleasant. Swans are everywhere on the Avon in Straford and we took a some pictures.
Finally caught the tour bus, planning to hop out at Mary Alden's Farm, which is where Shakespeare's mother grew up. It's presented as a working farm set in the 1500s, I believe, with costumed interpreters, some charming pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, cows and a horse, as well as falcons and owls for the falconry demonstration (which we missed).
I'm getting ahead of myself, though. After passing Anne Hathaway's cottage, where Shakespeare's wife grew up, the tour bus decided it was done. We spent the next half hour waiting for the replacement bus and chatted with three elderly ladies from California who were on a long trip to France, Ireland, Scotland and now into England.
One way or another, we did eventually get to the farm, and back to town, after eating a nice farm board meal (pork pie - I got all of Tom's, cheddar and brie - Tom got all of mine, bread, salad and balsamic baby onions), we got back into town.
On our way to take photos of Shakespeare's birthplace, we came across this fascinating place that was a "museum of wizardry". Largely a take-off on Harry Potter, with a good deal of hanuted house thrown into the mix, it was lots of fun. We solved the potion riddle and got our diplomas!
Back on the bus to Warwick, then we picked up food at the local shop and brought it home to the B&B, and it's time for a slow evening before the hustle and bustle of London.
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