On to York!

Friday, April 24

I'm off to York today.  I had packed the night before so I could sleep in and get a good start.  I had purchased my train ticket on-line.  I needed to take the Tube to Kings Cross Station where I would take the 3 1/2 hour train ride to the countryside.   Since I purchased my tickets on-line, I needed to pick up the real ticket at the station - easy and no big deal.  Just go to a machine with the CC used and your ticket # you get via email, and boom, your ticket prints

Heads up Travel Friends - don't get on a train without the correct tickets.  They check and they are serious about it!  I heard several people get nailed with extra charges because they had incorrect tickets.  You have to make sure you get on the correct train that the time on your ticket matches.  It doesn't matter if the train is headed to the same location - if you are to board the 12:23 train, you best not get on the 12:03 train!

My ticket was for 13:08, so I had plenty of time to get up and say my good-byes to Carmen, who was absolutely wonderful.  Caught the Tube to Kings Cross, got my ticket and I was off and running

I had a book to read on the train, but once out of the city and moving through the quiet, calm countryside, it is hard not to watch the beautiful lush view roll by.

pics courtesy of google imagines, I couldn't get a good shot from the moving train

When I arrived in York, at the much smaller train station,  the first thing I noticed as I grabbed a taxi to the hotel was how green it was, beautiful pink flowered trees, and

the Roman walls & the relaxed feeling of being out of a big city like London.  I loved London, but I was ready to relax for a couple of days, go at a slower pace before heading back to the USA.

York Taxi 

I got in the taxi line and waited for my turn.  It was a quick trip to the hotel - The York Marriott.  Another very comfortable and hospitable place to stay.  York is a historic walled city.  The city was founded by the Romans and it is the Roman walls and gate you will see here.  You can walk on the Roman walls that surround the town.

York City Gates

my personal guide in York 

My personal tour guide, Steve,  returned to me on Friday night after work, and we headed out to see the towns local Pubs.  We caught a taxi to the city gates, then got out and walked in to town.

Flood Levels recorded in the Pub

First stop was Kings Arms.  This Pub floods all the time, this has been going on since at least 1892 as you can see by the 'flood sign' in the Pub!  They must have the clean up down to a science!  LOL  This Pub sits right on the river so the flooding surprises no one.  Steve got a beer, I opted for cider and we sat a one of the tables outside the Pub along the river.


We took a walking tour around town.  It's very 'Old-y World-y" and the streets are cobblestone - if you enjoy old architecture & History, you'll love York.

Typical York Street scene 

I loved the Street Signs!

And of course, more cool pub signs

There is an area called 'The Shambles' fun Pubs and lots to look at, including the young crowd that starts to come out at night dressed to the 9's!  Fun people watching for us older tourists :-)

York Minster is the cathedral of York, England and is one of the largest of its kind.  It is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the 2nd highest office of the Church of England.   I won't bore you all with a ton of history, but as these picture shows, it is as impressive as Westminster. (thanks Google images - my pictures weren't great)

This was my attempt to get a good picture of the Minster

Saturday, April 25

Today we took off in Steve's car for a ride through the
Countryside and to visit the town of Kingston Upon Hull.  There is lots to see in this town,
You’ll find the Museums Quarter on High Street in the heart of the Old Town, on the banks of the River Hull. The old warehouses, merchant dwellings, lanes and pubs nearby all lend their unique flavour to this historic district.This is were William Wilberforce was born and his house has been turned in to a museum.

William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was an English politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780.  Wilberforce supported the campaign for the complete abolition of slavery, and continued his involvement after 1826, when he resigned from Parliament because of his failing health. That campaign led to the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which abolished slavery in most of the British Empire; Wilberforce died just three days after hearing that the passage of the Act through Parliament was assured. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to his friend William Pitt. (thanks Wikipedia)

Outside The Wilberforce House/Museum

We also made a list to the Hull Automotive Museum, which was very cool.

Old horse drawn street car

As we were headed out, I spotted a Pub, I just had to take a picture of.  I have no comment, as it is an old Pub.....

As we head back to York, we took the back roads through small townships and enjoyed the scenery.  Back at the York Marriott it was a quick clean up and then out on the town for one last night of enjoying the York night life

Here is the pub where things got rolling in 1642 with the English Civil War 

Within this Acient Establishment visit Ye Plotting Parlour in which on St. Georges Day 1642, The first blow was struck for and gained by the Parliament and thus commenced the Civil War which ended in the defeat and death of Charles the First >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The overall outcome of the war was threefold: the trial and execution of Charles I; the exile of his son, Charles II; and the replacement of English monarchy with, at first, the Commonwealth of England

Sunday, April 26

The York Marriott

Sunday was a travel day for me and Steve needed to head back to Hull mid-day.  So after a bit of breakfast, Steve headed out and I started packing up.  It was a beautiful clear sunny day, so I stored my bags at the front desk and went out on the back deck of the hotel and enjoyed sitting in the warm sun.  All around everything was green & blooming.  It was a nice end to my stay in York.  

This Photo >>>>>>>>> is of the back yard so to speak of the York Marriott.  Up close to the hotel, they have a nice outside deck.  This is where I sat in the sun before heading out to catch my train.  It was a very relaxing hour of warmth in a generally cool climate.  (cool to this California girl anyway!)

I had to take a train from York to Kings Cross, then a Tube & a bus ride to get the the Heathrow Renaissance.  Upon Steve's advice I had decided not to fly on the same day I traveled back to London.  This was good advice as I got in to London, I was exhausted.  After a snack & shower, I was fast asleep.

The Renaissance was super convenient to getting to Heathrow.  They have a bus called the "Hopper' - 5 pounds to the airport.  There is also a Marriott about 2 blocks down the street.  

Again, I flew the British Airways non-stop to San Diego.  I had a bit of a cold, so the flight wasn't as comfortable as the flight over!  But still a 10-hour non-stop beats a longer trip with stops!

Next Blog - tips and info on getting around London, things to do, and must see's

Till then, Travel Safe!

Susan