London - Tuesday

Most of today is riding a train to see Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of William Shakespeare. It's not something I'm sure I would do if left to my own devices, but it should be funnish. First there is the challenge of taking the subway to the correct spot and then getting the correct train tickets. Mission accomplished with time to spare.

We used the time, about an hour and a half, to walk around the neighborhood. Most of the time was spent, in the words of Gerry Rafferty, "Winding my way down Baker Street". Armed with my guidebook, I found points of interest. I found the address of Sherlock Holmes, 221B Baker Street. He wasn't a real person, of course, although that address does exist, And in an amazing coincidence just happens to now be the site of a Sherlock Holmes museum/gift shop. And next door was a Beatles store. Both were closed, but cool to see. The Beatles store had a sign stating its hours and that it was open "7 days a week". Come on. How do the miss the opportunity to state that it is open "8 days a week"? I find that implausible.

A bit more of a walk took us past the original Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. The building is only one story, but massively huge. I don't see the attraction in wax figures myself, but there were people lined up for it. Right next to that is the Royal Academy of Music. My boy Elton went there on a scholarship when he was a lad. He ended up leaving eventually to pursue his goal of being a superstar.

The train trip was fun. It always surprises me how little different other parts of the world appear. I just assume they will be vastly different looking. If I didn't know I was in England, I would have assumed I was seeing the countryside in the US. The trees are the same color, the sheep are the same size, etc.

We arrive in Stratford. We could have signed up for a tour bus that takes us there, but I read on-line that its a rushed trip and wasn't all that good. It did include Stonehenge, but those are just a bunch of rocks. I don't see the attraction. 

Stratford had Will's birthplace, his school, his second home, and his burial place. Some of that, I think, has dubious credentials, but I think it was legit for the most part. I have a great fascination of seeing famous people's graves. Will's is nice. Classy and inside a very nice, five hundred year old church.

We went into an authentic English pub. Its not all that interesting. It turns out that along with with trees and sheep, drunk people are also pretty much the same the world over.

The ride back was uneventful. It is about an hour and a half trip. Europe seem to have the mass transit thing figured out a little better than the US. Fast, uncrowded and not many stops in between.