We spent the first three nights in London and made short trips by train during the days. Canterbury Cathedral is extraordinary and we focused on the historical event of the murder of Archbishop Thomas a Beckett in the 13th century. We have read Chaucer on the subject in his Canterbury Tales and also T. S. Eliot's verse play, "Murder in the Cathedral."

Another day, we visited Jane Austen's house in Chawton. Seeing the very table on which she wrote several of her novels was a thrill for us Austen fans. After 3 days we took the train to Dorchester where we visited Thomas Hardy's thatch roofed cottage. Our hotel there in Yalbury had a wonderful 5-star chef who had been to Buckingham Palace the day before to have lunch with Her Majesty and a few other chefs. Our dinner that night was unique beyond any other meal we had on the trip.

We were soon on our way to Swansea in Wales, a beautiful place on the sea, famous for Dylan Thomas the poet, and then traveled to Exeter where we attended Evensong services at the glorious cathedral of Exeter. Our worship experience was beautiful with the music of the world-recognized Exeter's men's voices, and the scripture.

A long train journey then carried us down to the tip of southwest England in Cornwall to the little village of St. Ives, just possibly one of the most beautiful places in the west. We stayed at a hotel on the sea where the waves washed up on the rocks just below our windows, a truly poetic experience. We took one evening away from the shops and galleries and beaches of St. Ives to discuss "King Lear" as we listened to the surf.

After a last long train ride, we arrived in London once again, giving us a last chance to tour this exciting city before leaving the next day for home.

Now that everyone is home again, there are some papers due on the poetry, fiction, and drama by writers we visited from the 13th to the 20th century. Ten days was not enough to experience it all, but we had a great time trying.

Sunday: We got to walk the Jane Austen mile, which ended up being over two miles (whoo!) to see one of the places where she lived. We toured her house and then had cream tea (a pot of tea, and two scones with jam and clotted cream) at a cafe across the way. That evening was an appointment with King Lear at the globe theatre, my personal favorite event on this trip. The acting was superb and I mean, really, it was the globe theatre. I think that says it all.

Monday: Today we all took our pilgrimage to the legendary Canterbury Cathedral where Thomas Beckett was martyred and where Chaucer found his source for his Canterbury Tales. The architecture and interior decoration, tombs, and relics were overwhelming. The sights were vast and numerous but very intriguing. That evening the girls had a little saunter in the Kensington Gardens and enjoyed the queen's swans and the mystical forestry.

Tuesday: We left our hotel in London to go to Yalebury cottage which ended up being a completely spectacular experience. The land was rolling and lush, the cottage was quaint, and the food was five star. Our purpose was a visit to Thomas Hardy's boyhood home. Again we back-packed to its location which afforded us succulent views of the countryside. His house was adorable and furnished with era appropriate pieces, and the garden and forest around it were so inviting. We had a good long ramble through the woods searching for a path we never did find. Instead we had our senses filled with warm spring breezes loaded with bud-laden trees and blossoming flowers. A cream tea followed our navigation out of the woods.

Wednesday: Mumbles Wales included a walk along the coast and a hike to the ruins of an ancient castle.

Thursday: Next stop, Exeter! Other than a visit to St. Olaf's Cathedral, we shopped. I think everyone found some kind of little treasure either as a gift or a personal souvenir.

Friday: Our last stop before returning to London was St. Ives, a charming little fishing village. The first day was more of a relaxation since we had been packing and lugging bags and riding trains here and there every day. We pretty much just explored the area and took in the smell, sight, and sound of the ocean all around us. The next day we had a big adventure. After the rain stopped, we went exploring on the rocks at the base of a hill that bordered the ocean line. We climbed all over them and up to a small sea man's chapel at the hill peak. Later we had a group discussion with Mrs. Anthony about King Lear, and then we were off again seeing the town.

Sunday: We had a long ride back to London but we didn't take a moment to recover. As soon as we got off we headed out to see our last bit before the dream ended. We made it to Big Ben and the House of Parliament, West Minister Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Of course, we had to have our last British meal, and then we called it a night.

The rest was the usual, coming home, sigh. I think all who went would agree, this was a truly insightful and AMAZING trip. I have a fuller understanding of parts of history and literature I've been reading about for years and I made oodles of precious memories.

After lunch we started watching a video of King Lear which is the play that we are going to see at the Globe theatre in London. Unfortunately, it was an old video tape and it decided to die on us, so we were forced to switch over to a movie about Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury. He is the main character of the other play we are reading for the class, Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Elliot.

I personally am feeling a little overwhelmed and all I can think of is how am I going to be able to pack everything in a garment bag. Considering all the traveling we are doing on this tour and that most of the transportation consists of trains and the tube, a garment bag is the most practical way to go. These are the moments when I envy the minimalist nature of men. I expect this to be a wonderful, exciting, whirlwind tour!