Date: 2008-02-03
To: WARWICK
Miles today: 0.0

Gills boyfriend Martin came around nice and early and picked us up and it was off to Warwick, about an hour or so away. Another lovely drive in the countryside. Warwick castle is an old medievil castle and it was to be another spectacular day. This is a proper castle that has a rich history, it is about 1000 years old or so being built on the orders of William the conquerer back in 1068. It has huge defensive walls, a moat, and huge turrets. it is a fbit of an interactive experience, you get to wear some of the clothes, and handle the weapons of the day. There are many wax dummies set up to give you a feel for what is was like. We first went down to the dungeon, more rediculously narrow steps to walk down, glad I was never locked in such a place, few people it seems ever survived the expereince, it was more like a death sentence. There were many displays, and we ventured around all parts of the castle, it is incredibly large. It changed from being a castle to becoming more of a stately home. The bedrooms, sitting rooms, boudoirs, guest rooms, large halls, libraries, were all so ornate, and really spectacular. I had seen nothing like this before in my life, and took so many pictures, sorted through some of them and they look great. We went for a walk in the gardens, the grounds of the place beyond the walls are just like you would have seen on television, the grass is so green it looks like it has been painted that color. I was so blown away by this castle, and really had the most wonderful day. We went for a walk around the town another quaint english village. it was really beautiful, narrow roads, stunning buildings, and many more white and black buildings littered throughout the town. Eventually we stumbled upon a pub, and it was time to fill my belly with some english pub food, it is suprisingly of a great quality.It was another drive along the english countryside and we ended up in Stratford upon Avon. Stratford is the home of Shakespear, and we found his house. it is set up as a museum, and I left my mark in his house by doing a big fart that was heard and enjoyed by all. All Gill had to say was typical Australian. The house is set up as it was in the time of Shakespear, it was the home he was born in. We went for a wander about the town, I was taking many pictures, it was jsut as stunning as all the other places, but had its own unique character. We went for a walk along the Avon its a river, and I found some small river barges. There is over 2000 miles of canals in England, plus all of their rivers. Every river I have came across is bigger thatn the Murray in width and amount of water flowing down it. Went on a canal boat that was set up as a gallery and had a talk to the captain. He siad the baots have a draught of about 18 inches, and the canals are all about 5 foot deep. I asked him if the canal boats drop in the water fully loaded and he said not at all. They have such a flat bottom that it creates maximum pressure pushing back up. We found another spectacular church and I took many more pics, yes I shall get them up online soon.Eventually we drove back to Dudley, and had dinner at a Indian restaraunt, I enjoyed my curry. Then back to Gills house and straight into bed, slept like a baby.