Alice and I took a quick trip down to England yesterday. We rode the train to York, saw the sights, stayed the night in 300-year-old B&B and rode back to Scotland this afternoon. York is both darling and crammed full of history. The Romans established it as a city in 71 AD, the Angles took it over in the 400s, and the Vikings captured it in the 800s before the Normans got their hands on it. It was an important location in Medieval times and its city walls from that period still stand. It's an impressively preserved city. Alice and I walked the walls, marvelled at the architecture, took a terrifically amusing ghost tour, and ate the best cheesecake (orange, chocolate, ginger) of my life.
These are a couple of my favorite bits of York--
The Shambles--The name comes from a term that means
slaughterhouse in reference to the fact that this street used to be full of butcher markets. Some of the buildings date back to the 14th century and they're notable for their wonkiness--lots of sloping lines. The modern term "a shambles" (this house is a shambles!) comes from The Shambles in York.
York Minster may be the most famous monument in York. The current building was erected in the 1200s, but a church has stood in its location since the 600s. It's too big to photograph.
I just want to put York in my pocket and take it home with me.
The Shambles--The name comes from a term that means slaughterhouse in reference to the fact that this street used to be full of butcher markets. Some of the buildings date back to the 14th century and they're notable for their wonkiness--lots of sloping lines. The modern term "a shambles" (this house is a shambles!) comes from The Shambles in York.
York Minster may be the most famous monument in York. The current building was erected in the 1200s, but a church has stood in its location since the 600s. It's too big to photograph.
5 comments:
Someday, I vow I will take a "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" tour of Britain, and York and its cathedral will definitely be on the list. The main decision I have to make, though, is do I take a separate "Doctor Who/Torchwood" tour, or combine the two? Hmm hmm hmm.
Awesome.
Sean--I've taken Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell home but I've never been able to get into it. Maybe I'll have to try again now that I've been to York.
Gorgeous!!!!! Absolutely gorgeous pictures!! I some day want to go to Europe. My Stepfather is from Scotland and he's said that if I can manage to save up the money to go before he kicks the bucket, that he would go with me and show me around!
That One Girl--Ah, Scotland's beautiful. I hope you get a chance to visit.
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