At first glimpse, and second and third in fact, I didn’t like York. This was a shock to me as, having visited it twice before and loved it, I was looking forward to rediscovering its history and charm. You know the whole “people make the place” cliche: never a truer word spoken.
Our time here started at the National Railway Museum. Admittedly, this was not top of my Must-Do List, but when you have someone as enthusiastic as The Farmer on your team you can’t help but look forward to it.
The five-year-old Farmer’s excitement (“Oh me Dod, it’s Da Mallard”) had not diminished 17 years later (although his diction is now clearer): He simply loves this train! But even his unadulterated joy at being in train enthusiasts heaven could not overcome the general grumpiness of the crowd. Nowhere else on our travels had we encountered this.
Thinking perhaps it was just train-folk in general, we left The Farmer and the Princess to it and headed off to the Jorvik Centre. This glimpse at Viking life in the place it actually happened is awesome and the attendants are incredibly enthusiastic and passionate but, when we visited, our fellow visitors were ill-tempered and rude; The lines were too long, the displays boring…and then it started raining. The mood was same in The Shambles and then around The Minster we started running into stag/hen/birthday/booze trips in various stages of stagger-and-teeterage and ours plummeted as well.
“York, what has become of you,” we wailed (well, perhaps that’s overstating it a little but you get the idea).
Then, this morning we plotted our course: walk the walls, explore The Minster, and then hole up again in our hotel room. On receiving a faceful of vape fumes (what is it: steam? Smoke?? Either way, I don’ t like it!) as I exited the hotel, I was ready to about-face but the family sweet-talked me round and I am so glad they did.
York, when you strip away all those peevish, petulant, or just plain horrid day trippers, is just as I remember. As we wandered the walls from The Barbican (where we were staying) to The Minster, most people answered our cheery greetings and smiled. How could they not, in such wonderful surroundings?!
A service had just started, so we retired to Bennetts Cafe for morning tea, a wonderful place for both tea and cakes and people watching,
then ambled through the market and Shambles again.
The it was time to visit The Minster.
To me, this place is quite simply magnificent. I do not have the words to come close to explaining what it feels like to be there, among all that history, beauty, splendor and opulence so I’ll let the pictures do the talking.
Then we splashed out on a roast and beverage in York’s oldest licensed inn and, bellies full and step a little unsteady, we closed the circle of our wall walk.
I’m so pleased we persevered and discovered that the real York is still as wonderful as I remembered it.
Union Homestead 
Thank you for continuing to post on your vacation. It is really a joy to follow along. Continued safe travels.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Glad you’re enjoying our haphazard journey
Sorry your experience of York was so mixed but glad that the second day was better than the first. Wonderful pictures of the Minster, you really did it justice.
It’s a beautiful place
I’m really enjoying your tour of the UK – reminding me of places I haven’t visited for years. I’m so glad that your persistence paid off and York revealed itself in all its glory… along with the Minster.
It turns out Saturday was Octoberfest here in York. No wonder it was a bit yuk😊
The Minster? Oh… is that Westminster Abbey? Hahaha…I love it! Gorgeous pictures. I;m glad you persevered!
York Monster 😊
Oh! I get it! York Minster in York, Westminster in London… Your travels are teaching ME so much! Thanks 🙂
Glad to be of service😊
Funny how much people matter, even when they’re not people we’re with…I find this about Christmas shopping in malls – I get all uptight from other people’s stress, so I can just imagine being around a bunch of grim and grumpy types in the rain. Still. Trains, Vikings, Yorkminster (I agree, it is the definition of awesome with emphasis on the awe). The walls. Sixteen yr old me did the walls too – a lifetime ago. And tea at the end. At least you can’t go wrong with a cuppa (can you?). You lot are packing so much in to the Journey – thank you for finding the time to share these snippets!
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment 😊
I find your rather lukewarm attitude to the railway museum baffling. Who can failed to be moved by so much metal in one place? I am sorry about the grumpy tourists.
I apologise for my lack of railway enthusiasm but we have another in our party who more than makes up for it😊
I have always liked railways and enjoyed my visit to that museum a lot.
And I bet you smiled as you moved among those iron horses….which, on Saturday, would have put you in the minority😊
I am so glad York eventually revealed itself in all its glory. I am enjoying reading your impressions of the places you visit.