And just like that, the Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare trip is over! But it was a fun (and surprisingly sober) 2 days spent watching plays (with their respective levels of gore, nudity, violence, and incomprehensible plot), shopping, and puns (courtesy of Jenna the Butterfly Queen - more on than later).
First day was an easy enough one, though very much one of gluttony as I'd had a sizable breakfast, had alot with me for lunch, and by the time we'd arrived, some people were hungry again. So once Jenna and I had set our stuff down in our room, we joined Megan and Caitlin for a McDonalds before getting lost trying to find the theatre. A theatre which was visible from where we were standing at a pedestrian crossing, yet somehow we ended up walking around the houses (quite literally) and ending up back where we started, only to spot the red lights and massive screen ahead of us.
We were well placed for Antony and Cleopatra, close to the stage side so we saw the action comfortably - missing full frontal female nudity at the end though (shame). It felt so long, even by the interval after 90 mins but we had a laugh at the character of Antony groaning while trying to run himself through with his sword in the second half.
Thursday was a tasty continental/traditional breakfast and a trip down to Shakespeare's birthplace (with imitation fabric wallpaper and several beds - one traditionally for show). Spent about £8 in the gift shop, and then more in local shops (£9.99 on a little bunny from Guess How Much I Love You - childhood memories came back with that one) Ended up at the Butterfly Farm which was gorgeous, full of flutterbyes (I believe the Victorians called them) in all shapes and sizes and colours. Jenna, as I mentioned, ended up being rather a magnet for them due to her perfume, while Megan kept getting scared of injuring them if one landed on her, and Caitlin and I were lucky to hold cockroaches and a millipede (like moving Velcro!) More money spent on a necklace in the giftshop, then lunch in a little Italian shop - mmm chicken risotto - a £1 slice of pie from a street vendor (which I saved for later on), a black snake ring and badge with a Tempest quote on it from the theatre shop, and then back to the hotel for a short rest. Jenna and I got into the habit of browsing Instagram to see what sort of things would come up and we realised chinchillas were her most common item (surprise, surprise). Dinner came round and it was off to Pizza Hut which felt a bit rushed as service was slow and we had to be at the theatre 90 mins after we arrived. I ate my pie (cherry and vanilla crumble top) en-route to the theatre - which Megan and Caitlin bailed from out of exhaustion and a need to pee badly, leaving Jenna and I to enjoy the blood and conspiracy and shouting that was Julius Caesar. The clean-up team were onstage for a good while in the interval clearing away all the blood. I'd been bothered by a smear of it on the stage before but that was nothing in comparison! I did notice alot of 'gallant' suicides though which led me to wonder how sane men in those days really were.....still very well acted. But alas it was an early-ish night to be had after that as we were up by 7 this morning for a prompt departure at 8.30.
And I'm still wishing I was back in Stratford-upon-Avon now, such a picturesque little town - plus it keeps me away from the responsibility that is my Gothic essay - I'm only 293 words deep after about 4 hours work and still at least 1050 words from my goal on Monday afternoon.....I know I can do it, I just hope my argument comes out sound enough.
Anyway, must go now, will probably be back after this is over
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