Stratford-upon-Avon

The program took us all on our last group trip to Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare's birthday festivities. Everything in town is connected to Shakespeare somehow. Many of the original buildings connected to Shakespeare's life are still standing but a majority of the shops and so on are named after characters in his plays. (Like Iago's Jewelers - who knew that Iago, after driving Othello insane, opened up a jewelry shop in Stratford?) We went to every site connected with Shakespeare, I think: his birthplace, school, church, daughter's house, wife's family home and so on.

Friday night we went to the RSC's King Lear. It is, without a doubt, the best production I've ever seen (and perhaps ever will see). Very disturbing, yes, but absolutely amazing. Saturday, in addition to watching the birthday parade and visiting the rest of the sites, we rented a row boat and went out on the river. The weather was gorgeous and the town's quaint. It was a fun trip. Now we have a week before finals week, so lots of papers to write!

Photos: to be posted soon