| Stratford-upon-Avon, continued | |
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| Every time Bob and I come to Stratford, we lunch at Hathaway Tea Rooms. There's a bakery downstairs, and dining rooms up and downstairs, and lots of good English atmosphere. | Notice the slanted walls and ancient timbers behind Amy. Not only is the food good, especially the bakery sweets, but the building is fascinating. Be sure to go to the restroom while you're there. It's a chance to see the less public parts of the historical building. |
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| Lunch portions were generous and tasty. We ate there both days we were in Stratford. Bob was amazed that one of the waitresses recognized him from when we were there in 2003. | A wide pedestrian mall leads to shops and historic buildings in Stratford. |
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| Sculptures of Shakespearean characters were scattered about town. I think this is Feste, from Twelfth Night. | Shakespeare's birthplace is another picturesque cottage. |
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A back door of Shakespeare's birthplace.
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The first time we were in Stratford, some years ago, our hostess at the B&B recommended The Old Thatch Tavern. We've been going back there ever since. It's a homey local pub. |
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| Bob, Craig, and Gordy wait to order dinner at the bar in Olde Thatch Tavern. Note the strap of horse brasses on the post. | Each day Arthur and Jennifer took us to the Hatton train station, where we caught a train to Stratford-upon-Avon. It's the end of a long busy day, and Craig, Josh, and Lisa head for the station. The rest of the family are not far behind. |
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Blenheim Palace, Cotswolds, England
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| On Thursday Arthur and Jennifer took us to Hatton Station. We rode twenty minutes to Stratford-upon-Avon. We walked across town to a bus stop, and rode another half -hour into the Cotswolds and Blenhein Palace. Then we missed the palace, jumped off the bus at a cross-roads, and walked back. | This is just the outer street-side gate to Blenheim Palace. The Palace is that tiny building at the end of the long avenue through the parkland. |
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| Here are the main gates to Blenheim Palace. Impressive, what? | After the main gates, you cross an outer courtyard. |
