A Walk in York

This morning we caught the park'n'ride bus from Grimston Bar to the old part of the city so we could explore York's rich heritage, which started with the Romans as Eboracum, became Eoforwic under the Anglo-Saxons and Jorvik under the Vikings, then finally York.  My first priority on arrival was to spend a penny (or 40p actually) and I was startled to see that my toilet cubicle contained an ashtray. Not really the sort of place I'd be wanting to light up a Viscount, but there you go. Then when I went to wash my hands, I noticed a sign that said "Please do not wash your feet in the hand basins."  Well damn, where else would I wash them?  I did think for a moment I must be back in Peterborough, about which Geoff was so unkind earlier this week.

I know many of our tens of millions of blog readers have been to York and done the tour through the Jorvik Viking Centre.  It was great, as I'm sure most would agree. We loved the guided tour of re-created old Jorvik by trolley - it was almost like being at Luna Park without the screaming.        









   Geoff was particularly keen for this pic on the left to feature.  It shows a Viking in his outdoor dunny.  Presumably there were no redbacks on the toilet seat.

It was interesting that while it was known that York had a Viking history, the actual extent of their settlement wasn't until established until 1972.  Digs have also revealed the remains of earlier Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlements. 


                       

Yorkminster is absolutely huge - our delightful guide Veronica was most informative about its history.  The current church took 200 years to complete and was finished in 1472, It was built over a Roman fort and there were two earlier churches before this whopper was completed.  In the undercroft beneath the church there's a very impressive museum and lots of exposed brick work from Roman times.      







                     

While at Yorkminster, Geoff insisted we sneak into the vestry and don the Archbishop's robes for a photo opportunity. But he refuses to allow publication of his pic, while insisting mine has to feature.  If I'd known this was on the cards, I wouldn't have worn my Minnie Mouse shoes which I think detract from the reverence I otherwise command.
  








After Yorkminster we went to the Museum. Nearby is a  ruined abbey which even now remains impressive.....


                                                                

....and if you look closely at the centre of the pic, you will see two bag gentlemen and all their belongings chatting with a guy in a fluoro shirt. Down on their luck but still with a sense of history!

Over now to Geoff, who will give the day's other highlights: the bus ride and a senior's lunch at a tea shop. Gee, why does Geoff always get to write about all the good stuff?

Well gee, what can I add?  Seeing as how I (underlined) insisted that we dress up as the Archbishop of York.  Just sounds like me doesn't it?  The senior's lunch was that perennial British standby cod and chips, to which we unwisely added a side of mushy peas.  Well, when in York ...  Oh, and tea and a couple of slices of Tip Top Hi Fibe was thrown in gratis.

We felt that the highlight of the Museum was the ruined abbey wall pictured above.  Antiques Roadshow buffs will recognise it as the site of an edition shown in Australia about 3 weeks ago, following its premiere in Britain in 1989.  The Museum's current exhibition is about Richard III.  Readers familiar with Shakespeare probably don't need to see it, as you've already read the book.

And just in case you haven't seen enough ancient buildings, here's a guild hall, from ... well, a long time ago:



At least it's genuine, unlike its numerous copies in St Ives, NSW 2075.

The bus trip back to the Park & Ride was a tad disappointing.  It was advertised as running every 10 minutes, but we and several dozen others waited about half an hour, at which point 2 arrived simultaneously.  It then took another 20 minutes to get back to base, which ate into valuable drinking time.  Oh well, moosn't groomble, as several of our colleagues not only would have said, but did so.

Overall, York is great.  Like a lot of other towns steeped in history it features it very well.  The only downside is the inevitable commercialisation of the town centre that accompanies it.  Masterpieces like the Minster are all but surrounded by every conceivable tourist trap.

Tomorrow we're thinking of a fairly quiet day exploring our more immediate environs.  This is largely due to the fact that our arrival here coincides with the Tour de Yorkshire, a poor second cousin twice removed to sundry other Tours.  Although I understand Sir Bradley is competing.  (If you're not into bike racing and so don't understand that reference, don't worry; it's not worth the trooble).  Since our location is pretty much right in the middle of tomorrow's route, our challenge will be to avoid it like the plague.  We might as well be back in London dealing with last Sunday's marathon.

Archbishop Anne here again. Landlady expected any minute. Geoff!  Have you cleaned the skirting boards?  xxxx