(9-20-19) Friday, Day 12 Edinburgh – Alnwick – York Average 62 high 48 low 24% rain
Hotel = Novotel (Full Breakfast). (In city center). Novotel York Centre Hotel Fishergate YO10 4FD York, UK Phone 44 1904 611 660 4*. Recently refurbished. Bar and restaurant. Pool. Boat excursions nearby. On banks of the River Foss, located near the historic city walls and a short river stroll to the center. 5-10 min walk? or 1 mile? coffee/tea making available. Reviews = Great staff and breakfast. Good location. Clean.
TOUR INFO "We travel to the medieval market town of Alnwick this morning, where we'll see the impressive castle home to the Duke of Northumberland and the Tenantry Column, upon which the Percy Lion sits and surveys the town. Journey through Northumberland to the cathedral city of York. We'll embark an orientation walk past its cobblestone Shambles and see the inspiring York Minster with its 'heart of Yorkshire' before joining our newfound friends for a Farewell Dinner."
So we could see the castle in Alnwick at a distance and we could get a coffee and use the bathroom. I spent my time covering as much ground as possible.
Phone says 16,821 steps, 7.3 miles, and 9 fights climbed.
My INFO Alnwick is a market town in north Northumberland located on the south bank of the River Aln. It dates back to AD 600. The center of town is the market place with the market cross, a structure used to mark a market square in market towns.
York, a walled city, was founded by the Romans in 71AD. The City Walls form a walkway on both sides of the River Ouse. The walls still have all their gateways. The wall includes part of a Roman Fortress, some Norman and Medieval, and 19th and 20th-century renovations. The city was bombed in WWII but was less affected than other cities. In 2000, there was severe flooding of the River Ouse.
So we could see the castle in Alnwick at a distance and we could get a coffee and use the bathroom. I spent my time covering as much ground as possible.
Phone says 16,821 steps, 7.3 miles, and 9 fights climbed.
My INFO Alnwick is a market town in north Northumberland located on the south bank of the River Aln. It dates back to AD 600. The center of town is the market place with the market cross, a structure used to mark a market square in market towns.
York, a walled city, was founded by the Romans in 71AD. The City Walls form a walkway on both sides of the River Ouse. The walls still have all their gateways. The wall includes part of a Roman Fortress, some Norman and Medieval, and 19th and 20th-century renovations. The city was bombed in WWII but was less affected than other cities. In 2000, there was severe flooding of the River Ouse.
One of the Duke of Northumberland's home was Alnwick castle. Currently, it houses American students studying in Europe. It is the second-largest inhabited castle in England. The castle is a base for a number of commercial, educational and tourist operations and the base of Northumberland Estates, the Duke's commercial enterprise. The Alnwick Garden is noteworthy, also.
Tenantry Column is a Doric column monument that stands 83 feet tall. It is topped by Percy Lion, a symbol representing the Percy family. It was a thank you to the second Duke of Northumberland for lowering the rents of the tenants. I did not see this. I was on the wrong side of the bus.
York, a walled city, was founded by the Romans in 71AD. The City Walls form a walkway on both sides of the River Ouse. The walls still have all their gateways. The wall includes part of a Roman Fortress, some Norman and Medieval, and 19th and 20th-century renovations. The city was bombed in WWII but was less affected than other cities. In 2000, there was severe flooding of the River Ouse.
Yes, the leaves are changing color.
York's Shambles is a narrow medieval street with shops, boutiques, and tea rooms. Look for hooks and shelves of former butcher shops. The Shrine of Margaret Clitherow is on this street. The "Pearl of York" was pressed to death when she would not enter a plea to the charge of harboring Catholic priests. She is a saint and martyr of the Roman Catholic Church.
Shambles. This is where the expression Shambles comes from because this marketplace was a bit of a mess in the old days with many butchers and other venders.
York Minster is a huge 13th-century Gothic cathedral and is the second-largest in Northern Europe. It has two functioning bell towers and medieval stained glass, some of which dates back to the 12th century. The largest expanse of medieval glass is the Great East Window which measures 77-foot tall and 32-foot wide. Approximately two million pieces of glass make up the cathedral's 128 windows. The floor plan is in the shape of the crucifix. The stone used is manesian limestone. The Minster is 524 feet long and the central tower is 235 feet tall. The nave is the widest Gothic nave in England and has a wooden roof painted to look like stone.
Our tour guide walked with us about seven blocks and showed us the Shambles. He told us we could get to the Minster on our own. He would be available to walk back with people at 5:00. Some people couldn’t walk the seven blocks and turned back and one couple called a cab to return. I was happy I decided to skip the farewell dinner. I was able to pay and enter the Minster. I was as interested in the ruins excavation under the Minster as I was in the church. There was an entertainment tent with food, drinks and music that I passed on my way back to the hotel. I hung out there for a while. I walked along the river and around the castle area. I found my time was much more enjoyable than if I SAT through another three hour dinner.
No comments:
Post a Comment