Days of York

Sunny but cool day. Set of for our 2 hour walking tour (started at 10 am) detoured to walk along the fort wall and briefly visited Clifford Tower. At this site in 1170 170 jews and jewess took refugee from a mob. Rather than denounce their religion they killed one another. So that is your first history lesson of the day.

The walking tour was very well done. The gentleman taking it has a son living in Christchurch, so he had much to say about NZ. The walk covered the history of York; from Romans to Normans to Vikings. Covered medieval as well as more recent history. WE walked the wall (again), walked around York Minister, down the shambles (a medieval street) which was a lans of butchers. All the time I was trying to get involved in the Bollywood movie they were shooting. The shambles has to be experienced to be believe. Apparently it was used as part of the Harry Potter movies. Today it had a few Harry Potter themed stores-including "the store that shouldn't be named".Needless to say "she who must not be named" self quiet at home.

                                                                     Clifford Tower

                                            not a great shot, but the shops name says it all.

                                                           Part of the wall walk, all touched up by the Victorians.

The afternoon we spent at Jorvik viking centre. Based on archaeological evidence from an excavation at a location called  Coppergate they have recreated a village.This was around the 10th century. The actual display was well presented. On the first floor was the actual excavation site. you could walk over the site (covered with thick glass) to look at the different artefacts they discovered (in unearthed between 1976-81). Next you went on a ride through a reconstruction of the village/town. It was similar to Disney land's "Haunted Mansion" ride. Very well presented and most enjoyable. The next level covered examples of what was unearthed, including two human skeletons and fossils human dung. All around were the workers offering information (and all were dressed in viking themed costumes. All the models spoke the old norse language. It gave us an invite into daily life, all based on the archaeological evidence. Would recommend this if you are ever in York.

After this we walked beside the river, Ouse (I think that is the spelling), then along another part of the wall. What was of interest is the city was never completely surround by the wall. The Romans didn't bother to build  a wall in a bog. So, there is about 500 metres on no wall. The Normans and Anglo-saxons never bothered as well.

The hotel we are staying at is great, it has a full kitchen and right next door is a Co-op supermarket. This encourage us to eat in.

Tomorrow we board the train for Edinburgh.

                                                      The shambles food area-great hot dogs!!!!!