Historic Beauty: York

Walkable and full of surprises, York rolls up the sidewalks early, but the people are lovely and so is the view.   Train travel from Edinburgh to York is easy.  In fact, travel by train in the UK is much easier and more convenient than here at home.  Why?  I suppose there are a number of factors; we certainly got a later start on the idea of public transportation.  We walked to the station and found seats easily.  A smooth and scenic ride along the coast of England will get you from Edinburgh to York in about two and a half hours, and you will not be disappointed by the ride or the destination. Our train timing was perfect for viewing green meadows full of sweet baby lambs.

Once in York, we were able to walk to our hotel and then go exploring.  York is lovely and quaint and full of narrow streets, all under the shadow of the York Minster Cathedral.   The streets outlying the cathedral are also famous.  The Shambles is one of the most photographed and popular streets in Europe.  It housed butcher shops.  According to our Lonely Planet guide: The Shambles takes its name from the Saxon word “shamel”, meaning “slaughterhouse”–in 1862 there were 26 butcher shops on this street.   It reminded us of a walk back in time.

York: A History Lesson

Ruled by the Romans, who left their lovely walls behind, and the Vikings, who left an infamous poo behind, York is the closest you will come to a stroll through the Middle Ages.  We didn’t get a chance to visit the poo in the Viking Museum; you must always save something for the next trip.  However, we soaked in York Minster.

The cathedral is breathtaking, described by the Lonely Plant as: the remarkable York Minster…largest medieval cathedral in all of northern Europe, and one of the world’s most beautiful Gothic buildings. Seat of the archbishop of York, primate of England, it is second in importance only to Canterbury…

When we were in London, we enjoyed an evensong service at St. Paul’s Cathedral and learned that the new bishop of London is a woman–Bishop Sarah Mullally.  A cathedral ceiling is shattered at last.