Old York

3/26/08
On the train from York to Edinburgh
Well, we’ll probably actually stop in Newcastle to catch a bit more
Roman History at Hadrian’s Wall, but that’s only if we feel like it.
York is touristy.
For anyone looking for an “off the beaten track” UK experience, skip
York.
Not as touristy as New York, but still pretty touristy.
On the other hand, it’s touristy for good reason. With its
well-preserved city wall built by William the Conqueror,




Roman ruins,

and the newer gothic York Minster cathedral (newer relative to the
Normans and Romans)

it’s an ideal illustration of how a European city
grows in its various stages when being conquered by various peoples
through the various ages.

I love stories about various peoples being
conquered by various peoples through various ages.
Plus, I love to play castle:

I actually got this bit wrong. The York city wall, in its current state
was actually built by William the Conqueror, a Norman. So nobody on
THAT wall would have been frightened by Normans invading. There would
be plenty of SAXONS on a previous, slightly crappier wooden wall who
would be PLENTY frightened by the Normans invading! Asshole Saxons
should have built a better wall!
Finally I have to note that we stayed in a typical English Bed and
Breakfast.
http://www.ashtofts.com/index.html
It was perfect in it’s quaint, English style and actually family run as
the propaganda suggests.

My only complaint was that the wardrobe

simply held our clothes, And
was absolutely lacking in any fantastical Christian allegory. Unless
you count the fact that I was completely in the dark once I entered.