Wednesday, 3rd September       POCKLINGTON - YORK

Robyn writes: We've had such a big day today! This morning we headed out just after 10 to drive to the outskirts of York, where our nearest Park & Ride is located at Grimston Bar. Here there's a free car park (always good) and there are frequent buses to take you into the city centre for about 5 pounds return for both of us. There was a bus waiting when we got there, so we were quickly on our way. The trip only took about 10 minutes, then we got off at Picadilly, near a lovely Tudor merchant's house.

Me at the start of the Shambles

Lex on the lower roof level, halfway up on our climb

Climbing medieval spiral stone staircases - one of our favourite UK hobbies!

View from the top

A jumble of medieval roofs and streets

We decided that our first destination for the day should be York Minster. This very impressive cathedral dominates the skyline and is absolutely huge and beautiful. We walked through the 'Shambles', a medieval street which is just lovely - lots of tiny little shops in higgledy-piggledy crooked medieval buildings of all shapes and sizes. When we got to the minster, we paid our admission - 10 pounds each plus another 5 each to climb the tower. We figure we've now given a hefty donation to the maintenance and repair of the building! We had about a quarter of an hour to have a quick look around and then our tower tour started. Because there isn't that much room on top, they strictly limit the numbers which are up there at any given time, and ensure that traffic on the tiny medieval stone spiral staircase is one way only. Thank heavens! There were allegedly 271 steps to the top - a nice morning workout! The views from the top were lovely apart from the haze today, which made seeing beyond the city impossible. We survived the trip up and down (surprisingly the trip down is almost even harder than the trip up - it's very hard on the leg muscles!) By the time we got down I was very ready for a cuppa, so we went to the cafe area provided by the church ladies and had a lovely slice of cake and cup of tea each, before continuing around the church. We went into the chapter house, which is absolutely stunning - the most beautiful medieval tiles floor, vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows. Then we went down into the undercroft, where we saw a lot of the archaeology from the Roman fort and earlier church on the same site. In the 1960s and 70s, the minster was in grave danger of collapse and required massive work to support it. We could see the huge concrete slabs which now form the foundation, and the displays of their finds while this was being done were very interesting. Just before one, we went back up to join a guided tour which took us around and told us all of the history of the church, which was started in 1080 but the current building was finished in the late 1400s.



Stunning painted ceiling in the chapter house

These are a few of my favourite kings....Richard the Lion-heart and John the bad

Incredible stained glass dating back to the Norman era - around 900 years old.

By the time the tour was finished after two, we were hungry (well, I was!) so we headed out into the streets to look for lunch. We settled on a pub in a medieval building, the House of Trembling Madness. Very evocative name! It was extremely atmospheric with very interesting decor, including a skull and heaps of mounted animal heads (including a kangaroo.) Unfortunately the service wasn't as good as the decor; our lunch took about 40 minutes to come so we were rather hungry by this stage. Not to mention seeing our afternoon being frittered away, as everything closes at 5.

After lunch, we went our separate ways, and Lex went off to Jorvic, the Viking Experience. He said it was smallish, but very good with a glass floor above a reconstruction of the Viking floor. There was also a very impressive ride which took them through a reconstruction of the village which was there in the first millenium. I went off to see the Richard III museum, which was also smallish but very interesting. Then I went for a walk along the adjoining piece of remaining city walls - not as big and impressive as Derry's, but a wonderful survival nonetheless. When I came back down again I went back through the lovely old shops for a look and then into the minster to finish looking at the undercroft. We were very lucky with the weather today - quite warm at around 20 degrees and no rain, though it was cloudy all day.

Interesting wall décor at the House of Trembling Madness

Me hanging with Richard III!

We met up just after 5, and went off for a walk around the city centre before heading back to Picadilly to catch the bus. Fortunately one rolled up just as we got there, so we were soon on our way and were home again just before 6. I flopped in a heap while Lex went off for a bit of a walk (obviously hadn't had quite enough exercise....) then we cooked tea and are now happily sorting photos, blog etc. It's half past eight and it's dark! The days are certainly drawing in now that it's autumn.