Day trippers

Today we have done Stratford. And, sad to say, for us, it has become a 'seaside' town. Lots of shops touting Shakespeare, Shakespeare tours, ghost walks, shops selling tat - the feeling of a 'kiss me quick' place. On the plus side there are many independent shops and cafés and they do have a big wheel. 

If you look for them you can find some really old parts of the town.

Not a straight line in sight. 

Shakespeare's birth place fronted with modern brick paving. Flagstones or cobbles would have been more in keeping. 

Back to the basin to the hustle and bustle of the day boats. 

The slush and ice cream boat. 

And the restaurant boat. Oh no, that's us having another stir fry lunch.

A highpoint... 

... We've got tickets for the Comedy of Errors for tonight. Whoop, whoop. 

And, here we are on the big wheel. 

Some amazing views from the top. 

We can even see our boat in the basin. Three down from the top. (I think) 

And after all that, a well deserved ice-cream for the brave boy.

We thought we heard a lot of motorbikes going past, not realising that there was a meet up in town. Some serious machines lined up on the prom. 

Anyway, here we are, 6.30pm seated in the new Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre waiting for the start of the play. 

They are recording tonight's performance for the cinema, so, if you see it advertised soon, you might even see us in the front row. 

And, if it does come to the cinema, do go and see it. Despite all my negativity about Stratford, this is the most compelling reason for coming here. The production was amazing, the actors were amazing and we were able to watch a live performance of a Shakespeare play outdoors. Wow! Well done RSC and thank you for all the hard work that went into it all.