Feel the Serenity

EARTH has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth like a garment wear

This sonnet was one I "had to learn" in 10th grade English. Little did I realise then that one day in 2008 I'd be walking around the other great William's home town and thinking how appropriate those words are for this most beautiful spot on God's earth.

We spent the morning walking around the entire town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. We had just got used to gazing upon 600 year old little cottages when we discovered that there is another part called "the old town." Good grief. We spent an hour or so ambling alongside the Avon River, watching swans glide along and the occasional river barge, long and slender, quietly motor by. We watched, fascinated by the lock system. It seems that the way it works is by the husband (skipper) sends the wife (deck-hand) up to strain and sweat, winding the lock gates open and shut. It is accompanied by lots of directions from him below while he puffs on his pipe! I love it! I said to one such straining lady, "I must get a photo of a woman working while I get the rare chance." To which she replied in her majesty's finest english, "'Ere, why don't you stand a bit closer to the edge and say that!"

The pics of the old church alongside the river are where Bill Shakespeare's remains are buried - Holy Trinity. Then I took the bridge pic because I don't often see a 600 year old one. I like the pics of the old houses, 'cause I wanted Nick Burns to see what happens to your building lines when you knock off at lunch time and have a pint or two. Blimey! I'll never use a spirit-level again.

We were worn out from walking and so in the afternoon we went for a drive in the Warwickshire countryside. Down lanes and over little bridges, always having to pull over to let another car past, that's how narrow they are. We kept happening upon little villages with a few little crooked houses, a pub and the inevitable village parish church. the pic of Judy and I together is outside a little pub where we stopped for a break.

We skipped lunch today because of all our gadding about, so we're looking forward to having traditional English "fish and chips" for din dins.

Tomorrow we'll load up our suitcases and set off for Cumbria and our lakeside timeshare place that we'll call home for next week. It's just down the road from Village Levens and Levens Hall, apparently famous for its topiary. We'll be sure to post some pics from there.