Stratford, as you probably know, is famous due to it being the birthplace of English poet and playwright William Shakespeare. It is also home to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) who reside in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre along the River Avon. These attractions bring in many thousands of tourists and as a result it can feel a bit too touristy at times particularly during the height of summer. However if you pick a quiet time, preferably out of season, Stratford is a lovely place to visit. The town itself has many interesting buildings to look at including some timber-framed buildings that date back hundreds of years. There is also the garden and river area that is a popular place for people to enjoy river activities, picnics and street entertainers. I always enjoy this part of the town as there is always something going on plus it's nice to be able to walk along the River Avon and admire the swans who live along its banks.
Today however it was quieter than usual. The recent heavy rain had caused some flooding and most of the coffee barges were shut. This didn't bother us; we still enjoyed a leisurely walk along the river and up to the weir which was so flooded that the path simply petered out under the water. From there we retraced our steps back to the car but not before I took this panoramic picture. If you are unfamiliar with Stratford, the bridge on the far right leads into the town, the building in the centre of the picture (the one with the tower next to it) is the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and to the left is the boathouse.
I'm rather pleased with the picture. I took it with my new camera phone so I was keen to try out the panoramic feature on it and actually I think it's quite affective. It captures our trip to Stratford very well but note that blue sky, how glorious that is. I just hope we get some more very soon!
Deb
xx
