Birthplaces and beaches
By Jackie Zimmermann, Staff Writer
June 4, 2007 | 11:49 p.m.
No matter how great living in a city is, there is a point in time when the hustle and bustle is no longer exciting but instead becomes just plain tiring.
Even the most avid urban dweller can use a couple of days away from the constant traffic and noise of a city. Because I have only been in London about two and a half months, the excitement of its many diverse activities and places of interest is still fresh for me. However, if I lived here I would definitely enjoy spending a couple of weekends somewhere in the country.
Not to mention that the English countryside is just as fascinating and beautiful as the city. Simply drive half an hour away from London, and you are surrounded by rolling green hills and pastures of poppies and other wild flowers. Though my experience away from the city has been limited, it has definitely been refreshing.
My first trip away from London was to Stratford-Upon-Avon to visit William Shakespeare’s birthplace. It was, in one word, adorable. Picturesque thatched houses with dark wooden frames were everywhere, and there were so many cute little shops to explore along the streets. Also, while strolling through the town it is impossible to miss the numerous Shakespeare statues and monuments scattered about. Unfortunately, the two plays we had to attend while in the city greatly cut into our wander time, but we still got the gist of just how old and classic the town really is.
Shakespeare’s birthplace was interesting as well. I’m one of those philosophical people that walk through places like that touching the walls and thinking, “Maybe Shakespeare touched this…” Even if I didn’t place my hand on the exact spot that Willy did, exploring the house was remarkable enough. You can even tour the very room where Shakespeare was born. They had numerous artifacts on display plus some more recent decorations and props to help add to the landmark’s ambience.
Even though Stratford was quaint and fun to wander around, I must say that because I come from a town right on Lake Michigan I was feeling rather beach deprived. To help resolve our wave withdrawals, some of my flatmates and I decided to take a trip to Brighton, a coastal town south of London.
Our little day adventure was the perfect way to help wind down our study abroad experience. Not only will we be returning from England with some semblance of a tan (mine is a burn, actually), but we also got to enjoy a bit of the Atlantic Ocean. I was expecting the water to be brown and murky, but it was surprisingly bright blue and clear.
It was also interesting to see the difference in the coast itself. Rocky beaches replaced the sandy ones that I am used to, and the slope to the water was steep instead of gradual. It was kind of nice to be able to get up without having a million tiny grains of sand stuck to the surface of absolutely everything you own, but the inability to take off your shoes while strolling by the water slightly impaired the experience. However, the Brighton Pier made for a few fun-filled hours of eating crepes, enjoying carnival rides and relaxing in some lounge chairs.
All in all, it was nice to take a few days to appreciate a new aspect of the UK. I spent so many weekends traveling to different countries that I almost forgot to experience the one where I was actually living.
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