Stratford-upon-Avon

We're in Shakespeare country! But first, a quick recap:

 On our way out of Wales a few days ago, we stopped at an old Welsh coal mine that has since been turned into a museum. We got to go down into the coal mine and take a tour, which was simultaneously awesome and terrifying. You couldn't bring phones down into the mines, but here are a few photos from the surface. The above photo is what the ground level of the mine looked like.

This was a charter on how the horses used underground in the mines were meant to be treated. Many horses would spend their entire lives underground.

 We put on our mining gear and were ready to head down!

 And now, Shakespeare country! This is the home where Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

 Shakespeare's family was well off and had the largest house on their street. Shakespeare's father was a glove-maker. Above, one of our professor's sons models a glove that might have been made by Shakespeare's father for an upper class gentlemen. Below is another picture of the Shakespeare house, just from the back.

 
Just some friends exploring a site of rich literary heritage!

 Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, owned a large Tudor farm just outside of Stratford. We visited the farm, which they keep in authentic Tudor working condition. There was a birds of prey demonstration while we were there. Here, the trainer is working with a barn owl.

 It would swoop right over our heads and get really close to us. It was the closest I'd ever been to an owl, and one of the first times I'd ever seen one in the daytime.

The owl's name is Arwen. It was so beautiful!

The trainer also brought out this eagle owl to show us. Look at those giant orange eyes! Pretty crazy!!
We've also gone to see two Shakespeare plays performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company: Taming of the Shrew, and As You Like It. I couldn't take pictures of either of those, but they were both fantastic. It's been so neat to see the sites where Shakespeare grew up, walked, and lived.
Love you all!