A DAY AROUND YORK

We hopped on a train and we didn't have to haul luggage for a change so we really enjoyed our ride from Harrogate to York.  We were meeting a friend of a friend.  Karen Laino , a former Marine who joined the Navy ( there 's no good explanation for that, well actually there is but not for the blog) sent me her Navy sponsor's info who just happens to live in York, a short distance by train from Harrogate.

We had exchanged pictures so we managed to find each other under the large train postings board by platform 3.  Our group immediately took to Judy.   She was a perfect tour guide.  She obviously loved York and she had extensive knowledge of the history of the city and the Minster.  We discovered that she had retired from the Navy and stayed in England to pursue both a Masters and PHD degree in  Medieval and Monastic studies.  Could you get a more knowledgeable guide.  AND the best part she was really personable and knew good places to eat and drink!  We all felt so lucky to have had her as our guide to the city of York

We began by learning about the city wall which goes all around York and which you can literally walk on.  At one time in the not too distant past , prior to the decision by the city fathers to evoke tourism as  a viable source of income, people claimed sections of the wall as their own and built stairs from their property leading up to it and would set up tables, etc which then precluded people from walking around the city using the wall.   When the other sources of industry dried up and tourism became a viable source the "private ownership" was dissolved , the city reclaimed, and the wall became a tourist attraction!

Here's Judy with her attentive students.

The view of York from the bridge over the a River Ouse.

Walking along the wall. (Walking with enthusiasm, no less!)

Having a lunch in an historic old building that was used for Assemblies in the 1730's.  Very similar to our cotillions and debutante balls.  As you can imagine, I felt right at home.  

Judy left us to go through the York Minster( Cathedral) on our own and meet up with her later.  She had armed us with some some interesting history about the Minister and pointed out things that we shouldn't miss. One interesting tidbit which she told us we probably couldn't see since it was on the ceiling and one would have to lay down and have binoculars to view , was a scene in the depiction of the life of Christ done during the Victorian Era which shows Mary feeding the Christ child with a baby bottle.

The walk on the city wall was beautiful- wonderful gardens to view and good views of the city and the Ministry.

Of course we had to stop and rest a bit.

We met up with Judy.

And, what's new, headed to have tea!  It was a lovely day ( I'm getting to be so British - tea and the use of the word lovely) so we found a little cafe which had outside eating. Speaking of new did you notice my new attire.  I hate to brag but I had clean everything on that day!  Unlike JoAnne I didn't bring it up to my group.  There's no reason to rub it in!

Before we went to dinner we went back to the Minster with Judy and attended an Evensong service.

The sermon was delivered by the current dean who just may become the first woman bishop.   

After the service we headed out to dine at the restaurant owned by James Oliver a rather famous chef.  If we hadn't had Judy as our guide I don't think we would have found it.  It's hidden behind another restaurant on a small street, almost an alley.  

Judy walked us back  to the train station, and we enjoyed looking at the wonderful views of the city.

 We got on our train and as per usual we started editing and deleting photo's.  You can see this is serious business!

As I go through my camera roll I realize I have more pictures of stain glass windows ,altars, steeples, and Quires so tomorrow I thought I'd post pictures and you can let me know the Cathedral the picture was taken in.  Won't that be fun?  Good luck!