Day 5
Thursday, November 28, 1996
St. Egwin's and the RSC!
Another early day!
I made 3 presentations to different grade levels at St. Egwin's C. of E. school.
This is the school that Mark attends (he's in the 6th year).
The kids there asked some absolutely wonderful questions and seemed to enjoy themselves
a great deal.
I presented the school with a book on the history of the Johnson Space Center.
The principal, in turn, gave me a book on the history of Evesham, the
surrounding town.
A local newspaper reporter popped in for a few questions.
Afterwards, we meet Marianne at (surprise!) an American restaraurnt!!!!
We realize that today is Thanksgiving, but there's no turkey on the menu!
Oh well...
After lunch, Julian and I go exploring around Evesham after lunch.
A very dense fog has set in by this time, giving the entire town an eerie,
"horror movie" feel.
It's really cool and I get some wonderful pictures!!!
There was a 500 year old abbey in the center of town with a large tower that
had been built and re-built over the centuries.
We all (sans Mark) go to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and see "Much Ado
About Nothing".
This was an absolutely incredible performance... there's no where
better to see Shakespeare than in his home town!!!
We have a big dinner afterwards at the Treetop Restaraunt (in the RSC Theatre).
Since it was Thanksgiving (a uniquely American holiday, remember), John ensured that
I would have turkey and all the fixings that night!
Once more, I arrive back at the hotel after midnight!
Day 6
Friday, November 29, 1996
Stratford High and Warwick Castle!
Another brisk morning in England!
Today, we are off to Stratford High School for one more presentation to some
more students.
Julian and I meet "Doive" after another "full English Breakfast"
(yummy!) and head out.
The huge video monitor and overhead projector await us, and I gave the presentation
to the students.
They did not seem as "lively" as the middle school kids at St. Egwins' did, until
I let them know that, before they came in, we had hidden some NASA
stickers under a few lucky chairs.
After that, the questions came flying in at a furious pace!
After the headmaster called an end to the proceedings (just as we were having fun!),
we took a couple of pictures with some students and enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and
tea in the teachers' lounge before heading off.
As we head towards Warwick Castle, "Doive" stops for lunch at yet another wonderful
little English pub.
After lunch, we finally make it to the Castle for our VIP tour!
Our private tour guide, surprisingly enough named "Dave!", walks us around and
shows us the entire castle grounds.
Warwick Castle is the oldest, best preserved castle in England.
The castle construction was started in the time of William the Conqueror and didn't
finish major construction until the early 1900s!
In addition to the historic figures of midieval England, Winston Churchill spent
some time here at weekend parties!
There is an absolutely *BEAUTIFUL* waterfall next to the castle that can be seen from all levels!
The lower levels of the older part of the castle included some wax figures (like the ones seen
in wax museums) of the people who have lived or visited the castle over the centuries.
In addition, there were castle guides who, dressed in matching costumes, kept surprising us
as the wax figures looked so life-like, and we never knew who was wax and who was real until
they moved!!!!
Julian gets (surprise!) goofy and does his "Minister of Silly Walks" impression!
It cracked me up... but there were a few people (you can see them in the picture)
who were just confused!
Oh well...
I guess they're not Monty Python fans, huh? <g>
So... been bad? ;)
The dungeon at Warwick Castle was interesting, sobering, and a tad creepy all at the same time!
We spend a couple more hours just exploring the grounds and running up and down the
spiral staircases in the old towers.
They are especially spooky as twilight descends upon the castle!!
We arrive back at King's Court in time for a quick shower and change before being
whisked off again for another wonderful dinner.
This time, in a converted barn that is now a top-notch restaraurnt.
To quote Marianne, "It was simply soooooooooooooopah!" :)
This way for more adventures!!!!!
return to the trench