London Times

Friday, July 10th
We saw "The Winter's Tale" last night. It was the longest and most elaborate of productions so far. Being a "tracicomedy", it was also the most sentimentally diverse. Greg Hicks played Leontes (as well as Caesar on Monday) and was positively fantastic. Likewise, Hermione was incredibly passionate and deelply dimensioned as the both despairing and enraged wife of the King. The performance beconed us all, as Paulina instucts Leontes, to "awaken our faith" and experience the "magic" of theater.

This morning, I woke up early for a run. I winded down a lovely wooded walking trail and followed the signs to Anne Hathaway's childhood cottage. What a picturesque route. Only in Stratford. This entire town seems plucked out of a storybook, and I suppose that in many ways, it is exactly that!

I can't believe we've been here almost a week already. We leave on Sunday for London, and I'm begging the days to slow down and allow me to fully absorb every last drop of knowledge, of experience.

I've decided what I love about theater...the impossibility to see the same show twice and the endless possibility of variety in Shakespeare. Every performance of Julius Caesar tells a different story despite all calling from the same script. Endlessly fascinating.


Sunday, July 12th

I can't stop smiling. What a gorgeous day full of sweet July sunshine. We left Stratford behind this morning and sojourned to Kenilworth Castle, home of Dudley of Leciester, whom I've always been convincedwas Wueen Elizabeth I's one true love. What a gorgeous landscape of ruins, gardens, and rolling English countryside. Even now as we ride our coach onward, London-bound, I feel like I could burst with excitement. These people, the history, the traces of a lost time...We're able to stumble around in awe, snap our shots in earnest, and somehow hope to preserve this excitement, this appreceation, this unique satisfaction and utter contentment...feeling the fresh British breeze on my face, through my hair, soaking the sun into my skin, trying to capture or somehow contain everything around us. Through pictures, through words.

I feel such a joy. in the hum of Knoxville and routine, I'd forgotten the freshness and awakening power of experience, adventure, and boldly strolling into days to come.

Adele's CD has conveniently become my soundtrack for the trip and it's absolutely perfect. No wonder Purkey fell in love with this place!

Thursday, July 16th

Finally caught up. I don't have the time to catch you all up on this week, we've done and seen so much, and I'm borrowing time on a computer that we're all trying to share. All is well, embarking on Adventure Rome tomorrow! Wish me luck. Love and miss you all :)