England 1996

Another brisk November 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 at Stratford High School, and I gave my NASA and Space Shuttle presentation to the students. They did not seem as “lively” as the middle school kids at St. Egwin’s 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 medieval 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 Monty Python “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?

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!” 🙂