Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle was the next stop along our extended tour of historic Castles and Churches...it is amazing just how many there are! Perched on the banks of the River Avon, Warwick Castle was established in 1068 by none other than William the Conquerer to maintain control over the English Midlands as he advanced northward.  It was then substantially fortified in the 12th century during the Hundred Years War. It is quite picturesque and clearly for the many children who visit it is truly magical. Today it is recognized as one of the best surviving examples of a medieval castle. We visited on a Saturday and there was a lot going on. There were shows and demonstrations providing a glimpse of medieval times. They even have a working catapult. We had to manage our visit around some serious rain but we also had some really nice sunshine mixed in. Fortunately for us the inside exhibits of the old castle are also great so we didn't lack for things to see.

The Chapel within the Castle

Ethelfleda's Mound

Inside the Castle Walls

Stratford-upon-Avon

"To be, or not to be: that is the question: whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against a sea of troubles, and opposing end them..."

I think we all know these words spoken by the agonizing prince in Shakespeare's Hamlet and probably most of us have uttered these words at some point in time if only in jest! This year marks the 400th anniversary since Shakespeare's death and special events and productions are occurring throughout England. It just seemed fitting to plan our own trip to the bard's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.

It is clear that William Shakespeare came from humble beginnings and was the product of a working class family. The Shakespeare family home is a modest dwelling joined to the workshop where William's father crafted gloves. The house has been restored and is filled with period furnishings and apparel that provide a glimpse of life in Shakespeare's time. The house is also surrounded by very nice gardens that once would have helped feed the family.

We really enjoyed our visit with Shakespeare, and the little town of Stratford-upon-Avon full of small shops and nice cafes and a big personality.

The old town; the Shakespeare home is immediately on the left.

The Shakespeare House and Workshop

I think this guy is supposed to be William Shakespeare...     .

Yes, it's a Christmas Shop, and Yes we went in to shop.

A nice lunch in the old town...all good!

Oxford

Radcliffe Camera 1737-48
the nations first round library

Just think of how this famous university has impacted our world!

We visited the University of Oxford and the City of Oxford on a day when the weather was quite "British". We enjoyed seeing the impressive old buildings in bright sunshine, and then ran for cover as monsoon rains came upon us. The University actually consists of 38 individual colleges dating back to 1096, making it the oldest university in the English speaking world. Oxford is also home to the Rhodes Scholarship. The University growth got a boost in 1167 when Henry II banned English students from going to college in Paris and today around twenty two thousand very fortunate students study just about anything you can imagine here. There are of course many famous Oxford alumni ranging from Nobel Prize winners to world leaders to comedians. Incredibly, 58 noble prizes have been awarded to Oxford faculty and alumni. More than 50 world leaders, including 27 British Prime Ministers, have been educated here. Just a few recognizable names are Steven Hawking, Teresa May, David Cameron, Margret Thatcher, Bill Clinton, Indira Gandhi, Boris Johnson, John Wesley, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Oscar Wilde, Dr Seuss, Dudley Moore, and Rowan Akinson (you know...Mr Bean).  No comment from us on where they all fit in or who among them actually has had the most positive impact on our society. What we can say is we walked where they walked...

Church of St Mary
14th century

Divinity School

A wedding!

The Clarendon Building

Balliol College founded 1263

Ashmolean Museum 1841

Martyrs
Memorial

Chiana, Crete...

Chiana is a beautiful city with an interesting history. Originally a Minoan settlement, it was ruled by the Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians and Ottomans. All of this rich history has left Chiana with old Venetian walls, cathedrals which were turned into mosques and then back into cathedrals, narrow winding streets, and a beautiful harbor.

The beautiful harbor was the perfect spot for a nice greek lunch and some people watching.

We found loads of opportunities for shopping around this square!

A Christian Church converted to a Mosque and then back to a Greek Orthodox Church: the bell tower and minaret stand side by side.

We finished our tour, wondered around the old town and enjoyed lunch, and finally made our way back to the old covered market. There was an amazing variety of local specialties in addition to the typical "tourist" wares.