Stratford-upon-Avon

Yesterday I went to Shakespeare's hometown with the International Society. It really has been a great investment becoming a part of the Society for only 10 pounds because every weekend they have weekend trips all over the UK and they all are set at really cheap prices. In Stratford I was able to go to the house where Shakespeare was born, New Place, the Nash House, the Harvard House and Hall's Croft.

Shakespeare's Birthplace:
This was fun to see the actual place where he was born. It almost freaked me out a little bit that I was standing in the very house and the very room where he was born! The house is on Henley Street right in the middle of shops and restaurants. The rooms were very tiny and this house was supposedly a very wealthy house. One of the rooms was no bigger than my bedroom and it was the room where Shakespeare's sister lived with seven others.

Nash House:
This was Shakespeare's grandaughter's house...which was the neighbor of New Place...which is the house that Shakespeare bought with his wife Anne Hathaway. When Shakespeare died a complete jerk bought it and tore it down so now it is just some archways, sculptures and a garden in the remains.

The Harvard House:
One of the sons that grew up in this house started Harvard University. All over the house is Harvard objects and information. The toliet was gross...it was a box with a removable bowl in it.

Hall's Croft:
This was Shakespeare's sisters home. Her husband was the town's doctor and one of the things he specialized in was pee testing...or testing of the waters as he called it. When someone was sick they would get a urine test and smell, look at the color and TASTE IT!!! SOOO gross! As gross as that is I guess he did draw some connections because pee would taste really sweet when someone had diabetes.

Overall the trip was fun and I learned a lot. The whole trip was only 25 pounds to go and 10 pounds of food. Next Saturday I am going to Northern Wales with them for 16 pounds. I am really excited for Sunday though because its the ManCity vs. Liverpool Game.

US words to UK:
-speed bumps -Humps
-high end -posh

Natalie
PS tomorrow is my first day of class. So long summer!