by Today was going to be a little more leisurely, just a jaunt over to York to look around and explore the city. I had been to York before, on a business trip in 2005, but it was rushed and I only got to see a small part of it. But what I saw was great. We did the York Minster cathedral tour and ate dinner in a pub where I had the best cider I’ve ever had, still to this day: Scrumpy Jack. What a great name! I was determined to find that cider again and have a nice pub lunch.
Alas, two days of sleeping in and car trouble means I needed to juggle around some plans. So I headed to York first thing in the morning. The drive past Leeds involved fog so thick you couldn’t see more than 20 feet in front of you. That didn’t stop the Yorkshire drivers from still doing 80mph for some reason.
So We’re Calling This A Castle?
The first stop in York was Clifford’s Tower, part of York Castle. Or… all that’s left of York Castle? It’s not totally clear to me, and I was there before anything was open, so I had no one to ask. But from some quick Wikipedia searches, it seems like this is all that’s really left of the castle, it’s the keep that was on the fake hill that was created by William The Conqueror. So that’s cool!
But it’s so small. I guess when the invading barbarians don’t have guns or cannons, this will do.
Some Cathedral
Next was on to York Minster, the mammoth cathedral in the center of town. It’s one of the largest gothic cathedrals in Europe and was built over 200 years between 1230 and 1472. It literally looms over the town and is impossible to miss as you approach the center of town.
The detail and just insane architecture of the thing is impressive, and I kind of just stood there and gawked at it. And then walked to another side and stared and gawked. There’s wall details and saints carved into parapets and stained glass windows and just more and more detail as you look over it. And it’s huge. I included a picture with cars for perspective. I usually try not to include people/cars/human-objects in my photos if I can help it, but it felt helpful here for scale.
I was there too early to do any of the tours like last time, but there’s a cool tour that takes you around the cathedral and down side roads showing where old parts of the city used to be, where some of the crypts are, etc. It was really fun, and I highly recommend it.
The town itself is also really cute and I immediately remembered why I wanted to come back and really explore. It’s all narrow winding streets lined with shops and restaurants and pubs and just looks like it would be great to spend a day walking around and getting to know. Alas. I’ll have to save it for another time.
Don’t Honk For Me Angry Kia
It won’t be easy, you’ll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I didn’t see the pheasant until almost too lateYou won’t believe me,
All you will see is red break lights so soon
Although you were going so fast
And riding up my bumper tooI had to let it happen, I had to stop
Couldn’t bear to kill that poor bird
Looking out of the window, seeing if it had livedSo I chose breaking,
Stopping the car before it was goo
And making sure it was well
I never expected youDon’t honk for me angry Kia
The truth is, I saved that bird
All through my travels, my mad vacation
I saw so many
Dead roadside birdsesHave I said too much?
There’s nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at me to know
I think you’re a dick
So We’re Calling This A Wall?
Finally, a quick jaunt up to where the Romans just got so pissed at the Scots that they blocked them. This was before Twitter added the Mute option. I’d seen the Roman fort and part of the wall on my last trip north, so this time I decided to check out the quarry where they mined the rock for the wall.
I’d forgotten. It’s simultaneously impressive and underwhelming? Like, for 1800 years ago, this island-wide wall is an impressive feat. But what’s left is just… not that interesting. And the quarry was full of water, so I have no idea if it was cool or not. So, mixed result of a destination tbh.
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