Historic England March 2009

It's not every day that American

patriots have the opportunity to explore the throne room of a reigning monarch, walk in the footsteps of their favorite author or recite Shakespeare in his back yard, but during March 2009, 24 homeschoolers from North Texas and Oklahoma had the opportunity to do just that. Exploring Windsor castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and strolling past sheep to examine the monolithic Stonehenge filled our first eventful day in England. Highlights of the upcoming week included walking in the steps of the ancient Romans, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen in historic and beautiful Bath as well as exploring Stratford-upon-Avon, the village Shakespeare called home.

We experienced magnificent Warwick Castle, home to the politically influential Earls of Warwick for the past 500 years as well as Leed's Castle, a favorite home of Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII and strolled through the banqueting hall used for his court. We stood where Thomas a Becket was martyred and passed through the same ancient gates of Canterbury where pilgrims have passed for the past 850 years. We built a human cathedral outside the walls of Canterbury Cathedral while learning the features of the different architectural styles used in building these magnificent structures raised to the glory of God. We walked in the steps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, Lewis Carrol, William Penn (as in Pennsylvania), John Wesley and even Harry Potter as we explored Christchurch College of Oxford University.

We walked alongside the changing guard towards Buckingham Palace and marveled at the masterpieces in London's National Gallery. We enjoyed Agatha Christie's historic play, 'Mousetrap' (the longest-running

show in the world - over 50 years!) and reveled to the beat of Stomp! Stepping on Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin's grave in Westminster during Evensong service was thrilling as was the glorious sunshine that greeted us everywhere we went! We learned to navigate the tube (the London subway) and shared the frustration of Londoners as they experience the line closures, building refurbishments and street repairs that are in full throttle now in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. All in all, everyone agreed that it was a trip we will all remember for a lifetime.