We left Edinburgh this morning (sad face) after a delicious breakfast and walked to the train station. I missed the city right after we got into the train station. I had a perfect time there. We got on a train for about 2 hours and that went okay but then we switched to another train for another 2 hours and there were a lot of loud ladies on it and then some other ladies who talked loudly the whole time so it was hard for me to rest. I was really tired after that ride. We then had a break for lunch in Birmingham. We ate at EAT, and I had hot ham and cheese and a muffin. Then we had to walk to a different train station and take the train for another 40 minutes or so. Finally, we made it to Stratford-upon-Avon. We walked to our hotel, The White Swan. It is super gorgeous. A lot of us have our own rooms which is nice for some privacy for the first time in a very long time haha. The rooms are so nice! I have a big bed and a huge bathroom. It is fabulous. It is an old building but they have definitely reworked it in a way that outshines all the rest of the places we have stayed. It looks brand new and has a vintage homey feel too. We then left for Shakespeare's birthplace. It was a short walk and we started the tour with a short film. Then we walked through his house and then walked outside and there were some actors who were willing to act out any scene from any Shakespeare play and that was amazing. I don't know how they know so many scenes. At one point it was just our group watching them and they picked out like 8 people of the group to help them act it out and it was hilarious. Our group was dying so that was definitely a highlight. Annah, Claire, and I went through the gift shop for a little and then when we wanted to join back with the group who were still watching the actors but we couldn't go back out so we were stuck in the gift shop. There was a window looking out to the garden where the rest of the group was and Annah and Claire wrote some SOS notes to them but we were not saved haha. We just walked into a couple shops and waited for them to come out. We then walked to the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried but there was a funeral going on so we couldn't go in. We walked back to the hotel and got ready for our fancy dinner in the hotel. The walking was extra enjoyable because this town is so quaint and again, picturesque. The buildings are old styled and the parks are precious. They also have a lot of cute dogs here. I could walk around this town everyday for the rest of my life. Dinner was at 6:30 and our table was long and wide and we were all sitting around it like a big family. It was so cute! The candlesticks were like off beauty and the beast, they were huge! A candle lit dinner, how perfect. Our appetizers came and most people chose the duck but I chose smoked trout and it was delicious. For the main course, most of us chose the chicken with potatoes and again, delicious. For dessert, I chose a brownie with caramel ice cream and it was so rich but I was craving the chocolate so I chowed down. We were all stuffed ticks after that and we were all so happy and laughing a lot. It was a good night. a good dinner. a good life. I think it is safe to say we all love this hotel and everything it has to offer so we are all very content with life right now. We all sluggishly wandered back to our rooms and a few of us were going to hang out together and watch a movie but since it is the first time we had an early night in our own rooms, we decided to take advantage of that and have a relaxing quiet evening alone. I took advantage of the shower head that is the size of my face and then called my momma and dad. We talked for a good while since it was really the first time I had talked to them since I came here (sorry thats probably really bad) but it was a good chat. Now I will sleep peacefully in my royal room and prepare for our travels to Oxford tomorrow.

Fun Facts: I had apple jelly on my trout, odd, but delicious. Reserved seating on trains is the literal worst, there is never anywhere to sit. We saw a whole store dedicated to Peter Rabbit (one of my childhood favorites). Room service came into our rooms while we were at dinner and turned the beds down, left chocolates on the pillows, and left us some water and glasses on the nightstands (so sweet).

SHOUTOUT: Lori Beth and Taylor. The cutest roommates in the world. The sweetest friends to each other. The sweetest friends to me. Love your sweet faces so much and miss you guys lots! Thanks for the messages today sweets!!!