Trip to York

So it has been a while since i have updated this thing, and i have a bit of news to share so i figured that, in a last ditch attempt to procrastinate from course work, i'd recount my adventures in York last weekend.

The university travel shop every so often plans day trips for students to go to certain cities for the day to have a look around. Last weekend it was York. I believe that in a few weeks they are planning a day trip up to Edinbourgh (i know i always spell that name wrong) but i'm not going to go on that one as i feel that Scotland deservs a bit more time than one day.

Anyways about York. The bus departed from the underpass, under Alexandra Square, at 8:00am. We (that is my American friend, A.J. myself, and the rest of the students who were on the trip) arrived in York about 2 and a half hours later. York is a beautiful city. It has an old Roman wall surrounding the city centre and a huge cathedral called the York Minster.

A.J. and I decided to to not head directly to the Minster because we assumed that is where the rest of the students would go, so instead we headed along the wall in the opposite direction, just to take in the city and have a look around as to what the city had to offer. We made our way around to Clifford's tower, the only remaining part of the old castle that used to stand in York. It was built by King Henry the 3rd, and was the site of the Jewish Massacre in 1190 during the anti-semtic raids of York.

Was using the GPS watch that my mom bought me before i left as a going away present. have to say that it is the coolest watch ever! it lets you know how far you've gone and how fast you are going. A.J. and I walked for 2.8km along the walls and had a rough total of aobut 5km for the whole day. (I say rough total as it doesn't work indoors, because it relies on satillite signals to work and has to be outdoors.)

After the Castle (which had a breath-taking view of the city) we decided to go to the Castle Museum, which was dedicated to the history of the british people. It's displays show how everyday life of the british has changed throuout the years, starting from the Elizabethian era continuing through until today.

After the Museum, A.J. and I headed through York's city centre towards the Minster. we stoped to have a look into a few of the old churches that were on the way, as well we strolled down a few of the very famous streets of York.

Finaly we arrived at the Minster. We had a look around by ourselves, but then felt that maybe a tour might help us appreciate the cathedral a bit better so we followed around one of the tour guides who was very informative and really gave me an appreciation for how old and how much history was there.

One of the highlights of the Minster was one of the stained-glassed windows that is famous just because no one has no idea why it is there. it is a picture of a funeral, of a monkey, with the entire funeral procession consisting of mourning monkeys. the funeral mass is being held my a chicken, and a fox is involved as well. funny.

After our tour, which in my opinion ran a bit too long, we headed under the Minster to the old Roman ruins. i got to visit the sight where Constantine (a Roman Ceasar) was named Caesar by his dying father. This of course marked a change in history as it was Constantine who allowed Christianity to become a legal religion thus effectively allowing it to grow and become one of the most widespread universalizing religions of the world. As the caption that the sign said, it was where world history was made!

I really wanted to get up to the top of the tower, but for somereason the last trek up the 200-something step tower is reserved for York residents only and they wouldn't allow tourists up. I tried to tell her that i was a York resident, but my accent gave me away.

After the Minster, we wandered around the street of York for another hour and then it was time to go catch the bus back to Uni. It was a great day, but i definitly want to get back there, as i didn't get to go on the Viking museum tour (a York must) and i'm going to get up that tower next time!

So that is my recount of my trip to York.

but before i sign off, just wanted to wish my Mother Happy Birthday again. as well i want to wish my Grandma and aunt Sherrie safe travels, they are in San Francisco visiting my cousin Alicia and her husband Tom. Sherrie send me some photos!

Okay all the best to everyone!
I'm off to find other inventive ways to avoid doing my homework.
Catch you on the flip side!
Rob.