“To live a charmed life”...

Our first stop today is a visit to Anne Hathaway's Cottage -- a twelve-roomed farmhouse where Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, lived as a child in the village of Shottery, Warwickshire, England, about 1 mile west of Stratford-upon-Avon. Spacious, and with several bedrooms, it is set in extensive gardens where expert gardeners time the plantings so there is always something blooming all year long. This creates a romantic atmosphere all around the property. There gardens include flowers, of course, vegetables, herbs and an extensive variety of shrubs.

“In my minds eye” ...the beauty of the Cotswolds is as picturesque as I imagine it to be. Stratford-upon-Avon, home of the greatest English writer...William Shakespeare who wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets which were translated into every major language in the world.

Do these sound familiar?

“This above all: to thine own self be true, ...
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” ...
“To be, or not to be: that is the question”

Into town we go to visit "Bill's" birthplace and meander through the various shops and eateries. As we enter the main street, we are greeted by the court jester, "Touchstone" from the play "As you like it".

Holy Trinity Church is a nice walk through town and along the river and away from tourists. The small church is interesting and the cemetary is filled with beautiful old, mossy headstones. This is where Shakespeare was baptized, married and buried

A nice stroll back into town to find a bite to eat...maybe some fish and chips to round out the day and on to Oxford we go!

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