York

York was scheduled for Tuesday June 28 and we had our first experience of the park and ride system for York. We used the yellow line that went from Grimston Bar and got off at Peasholme Green where we were able to access the first section of the walls of York.

We have noticed all over Yorkshire signs for ducks/geese. Now we see why. All the traffic stopped for these geese who crossed the road with their heads imperiously in the air.

I was fascinated by this idea. You come armed with a sheet of paper and using coloring pencils you rub on to the paper the part of the map on the panel. When you have rubbed all the panels you have a complete map of the city. Unfortunately I had neither paper nor pencils!

The Ice House

After a quick coffee at a musically themed cafe - Cafe Concertina - we made our way to York Minster.

Brian took the tour of the tower from which he took the following photos.

The Minster was set up for The Mystery Plays which are being performed there at the moment. That meant that the whole body of the church was taken up with a stepped stage area and a tiered seating area like in an auditorium. I felt that we did not get a real experience of the Minster and I was annoyed that the entry fee (£10) did not take that into consideration.

I felt a bit like this myself!

After being thoroughly monster minstered we wandered through the streets of York and found the Shambles, York's most famous street with timber-framed buildings nearly all of which were touristy shops.

Brian found a buddy!

Jim and Brian shared a large jug of beer.

And then, to please Brian, we went to York's Chocolate Story where, at the end of the tour, we got to make our own chocolate lollies. York's Chocolate Story is an interesting, informative and entertaining guided tour through the history of York's most famous chocolate-making families and their chocolate creations. We were told about the origins of chocolate, how to make it and how to taste it. A variety of media were used in the telling and I was really impressed by the whole approach. The most fascinating method was, I think, stolen from the Harry Potter moving pictures where characters were able to converse with one another and with the tour guide and could move into another picture, as in where one character helped the small shop lady get up on a high stool so she could keep an eye on all that was going on in her shop. Each stage of the tour was accompanied with tastings so I had more chocolate in one hour than I would normally eat in a month. We also learned that Japan is the top kitkat producer making all sorts of weird and wonderful flavours like soy sauce, prawn, wasabi. Give me the original any time!

Brian bought this. Yuck!
















The rain had started by then so we quickly found our way to the Piccadilly stop, boarded our park and ride bus and headed back to Grimston Bar. On the way home from Grimston Bar Jim noticed billowing clouds of smoke and it was clear that something big was on fire. In my fragile state since our misadventure in France I was convinced it was our house in Barmby Moor but as we got closer to home we knew the fire was focussed more on Pocklington. As it turns out it was LMA Chemicals Ltd. and fortunately no one was hurt. Locals (including us, were warned to keep windows closed and were informed that, due to the high volume of water needed by the fire services that local supply could be affected.