Off to Stratford!

My favorite area in London is Piccadilly Circus, site of the many shows we have seen and a tremendous night -life. Like Time Square, the first thing that captures your eyes when you exit the train is the noise, flashing lights, billboards, and the rush of people trying to get to their next destination. As a native New Yorker, I felt right at home, although others in the group were somewhat flustered at the pace. Camden, considered the hipster area of London, always offers something to do at night and is a great spot of late night snacks. The Camden Eye is the group’s favorite pub because of its laid -back atmosphere and live music.

One of other favorite spots is Borough Market located right off of one side of the London Bridge. The Borough Market is an extraordinary food market that at first seems like a dead-end ally, but as you walk along the train line and make a slight turn you can smell the delicious options instantly. There are many free samples, and each vendor has a little sign describing where their food is from. Our first time there was a lunch gathering after a show. I first tried a barbeque chicken wrap at the soul food vendor, along with a tomato and pesto roll from an Italian chef. To wash it down I tried Pimms, a trademark drink in London. Half liqueur, half lemonade, and serve with strawberries, pears, and mint, it’s a sweet cold drink that I highly recommend.

To get a better understanding of the origins behind some of the Shakespearean acting we have seen so far, we took a two -day trip to Stratford, home to William Shakespeare. We took a two-hour train ride from London to Stratford, and as soon as we left the city the scenery drastically changed. After passing Wembly Stadium, the hills and grass of rural England engulf both sides of the train windows. Cows and sheep strolled along as the sun was out, and it quite a nice change from the city. Once we checked into our bed and breakfast, we went on a walking tour that included the main theater where we saw The Jew of Malta and the burial sight of Shakespeare and his family. The burial was located in a grand church filled with historic art and quotes from Shakespeare’s work. It was a riveting feeling to stand along side one of the most brilliant minds to ever walk the earth. After exploring the rest of town, we were treated to front row seat to the Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe. Dark in tone but comedic on stage, I have to say it was one of the best live performances I have ever seen.