After our lovely cruise on the river Thames, we went to the Old Globe…

Okay, it isn’t the real Old Globe, that one burned down. But it was still pretty awesome.

They recreated it as close to the original as they could… in both detail and location…

This is going to be one of those times when it will be easier for you to Google the details that interest you than for me to try to tell you everything I know about the Old Globe Theater.

But I will tell you that going to a play in Shakespeare’s time was nothing like going to a play today.

The place would be packed with drunken revelers, all shouting and interrupting and fighting and gambling and engaging in… uh… public displays of affection of various sorts… and so on…

The actors were often either ignored or else the audience would be trying to insert themselves into the play. The actors did a lot of adlibbing.

Once again, if you are ever in London, you must visit this remarkable place.

Our guide, the pretty lady by the wooden post, was awesome. She is an actress, and really made the culture and times of the immortal bard come alive… all in rated PG fashion… which wasn’t easy.

My mom, who is a seasoned world traveler and has been to see plays at the Old Globe… and is also over 90, you might recall… elected not to join us on our visit to the Old Globe… instead, while we waited for our tour time to arrive, we went to this old pub…

The Anchor is the oldest pub in London, if I remember correctly… yes, it was built in 1615, but it was a drinking establishment of some sort for much longer than that, having been rebuilt many times… and Shakespeare used to hang out and drink there, or so we were told.

Our English cousins had left us by this time, and my mother elected to stay at the pub and have a beer or two while we went on the Old Globe tour.

I have to say that the pub was delightful.

I can’t even remember what I had for lunch… because… beers… but the food was great and we all shared.

When we got back from our tour, mom was waiting outside, bundled up against the chill… and fortified for warmth… with beers…

Go to London, go to the Old Globe, and go to the Anchor. You will not regret it.