Although you may (or may not) be pleased to find out that I have booked two holidays abroad – one this year and one next.
Wells
This is the smallest cathedral city in England. Although the Bishop is officially ‘of Bath and Wells’, this is the cathedral. It used to be just the Bishop of Wells but, in the 12C, a man called John of Tours was appointed Bishop, visited Wells and decided it was a backwater. He wanted to be Bishop of Bath. He went to Bath and informed the monks of the Abbey that he was taking over. He had the Saxon Abbey knocked down and built a cathedral – bigger than the current Abbey which replaced it 400 years later. Once the dust had settled, the Bishopric went back to Wells but the See was renamed Bath and Wells. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Tours. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_of_Bath_and_Wells
Wells Cathedral. It is famous for the tiers of figures across the frontage,Detail of the front Memorial to Harry Patch, last survivor of the First World War and well known for reminding various governments what life was like before the welfare state.Cathedral clock. https://youtu.be/cmY-Vv1qtzo?si=iMwlPj6PDeOu8H74Vicars Close. This is Europe’s oldest continually inhabited mediaeval street, built in the 14C for the Vicars Choral who sang in the cathedral – and still do!
Stratford upon Avon
To Stratford for a performance of The Tempest by William Shakespeare, starring Kenneth Branagh. Having not been to Stratford for years, I’d forgotten how many ancient buildings there were, apart from the ones one hears about.
Ancient houses. I’m not sure how old they are but probably not newer than the 16C. The Town Hall. This one is 18C as the previous one burned down! If the sign can be trusted, this one is probably 16C. More proof of construction. This is Shakespeare’s birthplace. And this is the garden behind it. These pictures are all inside the birthplace. Fireplace with cooking utensils. BedroomOver the years, earlier visitors left their marks. When does graffiti become history? Discuss, using one side of the paper only. The simplicity of hand made living. Another fireplace. The larder. Shakespeare’s father was well off and a successful businessman so the family would have had a good and mixed diet. And then we rejoin the 21C outside. Note juxtaposition of magic and defibrillator. Classy. More half timbering. This is a yard off the main road. The buildings on the left were probably originally stables. Boats on the Avon. The stage inside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (https://www.rsc.org.uk). Ignoring the ‘no photographs’ sign. Statue of Shakespeare in the park next to the theatre. Statue of Falstaff in the same park. Swans on the Avon. Downstream. Photo taken whilst on a boat trip. The boat. View over the town from the upstairs bar in the theatre
This isn’t quite caught up but I will try and do some more in the next day or two. Hope you are still enjoying my ramblings.
Why would I not be pleased that you’re off to foreign parts again? It guarantees the rest of us interesting photos and titbits about places we may not know…anyway, these are braw. Many thanks.
The Retirement Travels 
Excellent pictures Ann!
We go to Stratford quite regularly but only to see plays at the RSC.
Your pictures have encouraged us to spend more time exploring its other attractions.
See you soon,
A &J
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Why would I not be pleased that you’re off to foreign parts again? It guarantees the rest of us interesting photos and titbits about places we may not know…anyway, these are braw. Many thanks.
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