The Walled City of York
Trip Start
Mar 28, 2009
1
7
Trip End
Apr 14, 2009
York,
England,
United Kingdom
Monday, April 13, 2009
The York Minster(1)
York is a historic city with wide ranging activities to suit everyone's requirements. I had to get to two sights: The York Minster and the National Railway Museum. It is Easter weekend so with a bit of logic and research I found out that the Minster was closed for the tours on Easter Sunday but obviously open for worship. A Minster for those who are wondering is "the Anglo-Saxon name for a missionary church". A cathedral is a mother church of a diocese and it houses the seat or 'cathedra' that the bishop sits upon. So the next time you want to impress someone you can throw in that fact...or not. The York Minster is the largest medieval Gothic church in Northern Europe and is well worth the effort to visit. This was the first sight that we chose to visit after we had checked in at the hotel. If you enter the minster as a tourist, there is an admission fee which is different for the various activities that are available (the minster, crypts and the tower). The minster is simply gorgeous!!! Even though I have a preference for Gothic churches, I think that images of the church prove that it is not just my bias. I was lucky enough to join a free, informal tour which is available to all individuals at set times. This service is provided by the minster. Once this was complete, I wandered through the church admiring not only its striking beauty but taking the opportunity to pray and reflect. I also decided that I would climb the 275 steps to ascend the central tower to its highest point of 195 ft/ 60m. I had to pay for the privilege of getting hot and sweaty as I climbed the cold,spiral staircase with 49 other people who also bought into this idea. I know : 'There is a bridge that you want to sell to me.' :) As we climbed the tower, the choir was preparing for evensong and the sound of their beautiful voices served as the inspiration to get up and down. This is the highest point in York and I got some really beautiful views of the city. We finished at the minster fairly late and there was nothing much else to do but wander through the Shambles
The York Minster(2)
. This is a meandering, narrow medieval street that is probably the best preserved medieval street in Europe. The cobbled stoned street is lined with specialty stores that invite you in to see their wares. The Shambles can offer the visitor anything that their heart desires from food to lace stores with everything in between. It is also the spot that you should go to if you want to go on a Ghost tour. As I wandered through the city, it becomes obvious to all but the blind that this city is different. It has a medieval city wall through the city and anyone is able to walk on it.. It is alot of fun and well it gives one the feeling that one is invading the city in a skirmish.The next day we went to the National Railway Museum which is the largest railway museum in the world. My friends among the readers will be shaking their heads and tutting at my need to go this particular museum but it worth the day out for the family. As a little boy said to me: 'There lots of choo-choos. I like choo-choos'. He was cute!!! It is a place that young and old seem to satisfy their fascination with the railways. Britain has a strong railway history and one that they are extremely proud of. This is evident in the effort that I have put into the NRM. These are not just exhibits,they completely restored train sets. It is an amazing experience. There are two large halls each with 20 steam locomotives and train sets. Access is also provided to the workshop in which they preserve these trains. The Rocket, the first steam locomotive and the Mallard, the world record holder for steam traction are on display in their complete glory.In addition, the royal trains are lined up at the platforms almost pleading for you to board so that they may transport you to somewhere that is special to your heart.Evetually I had to leave this wondeerful place to get back and prepare for our departure back home. Even though, we didn't spend a great deal of time in York, we had a magnificent time here and it is place that I will definitely come back to when next time I am wombling through the UK. It was a fabulous ending to a fabulous holiday!!!!!!
