No doubt you remember me ending me last blog saying I was going to be
going out to the local pub and listening to a local band? Followed in
quick succession by: 'what can go wrong???'
You would think that by now I would know to keep my hand plastered to
my wooden head when I tempt fate (yes, Shaun, she visited!) turns out
that when you tempt fate she tends to take you up on it... I got
wrapped up and ready I go out, headed downstairs and out the front
door where I noticed that it was snowing, yes, you read correcty,
SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I turned around and headed for the comfort and
warmth of the hostel!
Saturday night was this spent indoors, wrapped up, watching the x-
factor (not such a bad thing!!)
I woke up on Sunday morning giddy and excited and chuffed and eager
and cold! I hurried downstairs, scoffed my breakfast and headed out to
go and play in the snow (well, I say snow, but it was a rather
pathetic layer of icey slush that's only goal was to penetrate the
warmth of my shoes and soak my socks!) BUT never mind, it was
technically still snow!!!!!!
I headed for town where I wondered about, in and out of shops (looking
at all the local collectables). Once I was bored of that, I went for
a walk along the river, stopping once for tea and then heading for the
city walls (again) where I walked on the outskirts of York city
centre. By that stage, it was dark (and I had forgotten to go shopping
for dinner - all the shops were closed [Sunday sees all grocery stores
close at four] which meant I had to head back into the city for a meal
out!) I was looking for a place to grab some grub when I saw marks and
spencers was still open (so I treated myself to soup and baguette!)
I headed back to the hostel as I figured that my nose would look a
whole lot better once it had defrosted!
Once defrosted I went to my room to get my stuff for a shower. I was
collecting my stuff, and chatting to a new girl in the room (Anna, who
was starting her new job on Monday morning at the university). Halfway
through our conversation, another girl came in (Karen), I greeted
her. Turns out she is from Alberton!!! We got on like a house on
fire. I decided to skip the shower and head down to the bar for drinks
with her (yes, the hostel had a bar- but it was dead ALL THE TIME!!)
We were sat talking (and writing postcards) when we were joined by
another girl (Kat) from Norway. Before long, another guy came into the
bar, ordered a drink and sat studying (that will give you a good idea
of the atmosphere in the bar!) It was at this point that we decided
that we would do a bit of touring together the next day (all the bits
I had not yet done). Around 23h00 Karen went to shower. I was sat
finishing my parcel when the guy (the one sat studying) came over and
asked if he could join me (Kat stood up and went to bed). I smiled
and accepted. For the next few hours we sat talking. We were joined
by one of the hostel staff, once reception had closed.
It was early Monday morning when I fell into bed. I had to be up a few
hours later (but as you know, I am quite used to surviving on a few
hours sleep!). Around 07h00 I got up, showered, dressed and headed
down for breakfast. I met up with Karen and Chris (the guy in the
bar) and together we headed for town.
I posted my parcel and then went to the Minster (the cathedral). I
paid for my torture (otherwise known as the climb up the tower). The
tower is only open for five minutes every hour (because there are 275
steep steps to the top and because it is VERY narrow). Luckily Chris
and I were right at the back of the queue, so we did not have any
pressure to hike to the top). On entry to the tower we were asked if
we suffered from claustrophobia, asthma, or any heart problems and
then reminded that it was going to be very tough going (great!!! What
words of encouragement!!!). We reached the halfway point where we had
to cross over a narrow bridge to the other set of steps. As chris
crossed, he looked as though he had some magnetic attraction to the
railing (turns out he is scared of heights - as he suffers from
vertigo). He rushed to the other side whereas I took my time so I
could recover! The second half of the climb was by far the worst, as
the space to climb was cut in half and the steps were much steeper. I
found myself climbing up the tower sideways (wondering why I had done
this to myself!) when finally I heard chris tell that he was at the
top (now, you must remember that it is a spiral staircase, so I had no
idea how many turns he had taken ahead if me... I just kept hoping it
was around the corner!)
Finally, I reached the top, it was beautiful. We spent a good few
minutes taking photos and enjoying the scenery. But, before long it
was time to climb back down (isn't it funny how the climb down is so
much quicker and easier???)
We met Karen at the bottom and headed out for a tour of the city
Walls. We got on the wall and walked until we reached the other side
of York (where the wall comes to an abrupt end). We got off the wall
and headed for Betty's tea shop (quite a famous tea shop - where they
serve high tea!). We stood in the queue for about 20 minutes, eagerly
waching the people in the window (secretly hoping that our droole
would make them eat faster!) We eventually got a table (and as luck
would have it, it was in the window next to the queue outside!) and
browsed the menu. We ordered tea (as you do) and cake. They brought
the cake trolley around for us to choose from. It was ever so elegant.
We drank our tea and had our samples (teensy tiny cakes), took a
number of photos and then left!
After that experience, Karen wanted to do Jorvik (which Chris and I
had already done) so we walked her there and told her to call when she
was done. Whilst she was busy we went for a stroll along the river and
chatted. It was rather nice.
Before long, she was done, so we went and collected her and headed for
a pub. We had a round of pints (Yorkshire terriers) then another
(black sheep). We then decided that we should try another pub and so
headed toward the lamb and lion. We got inside, had another local brew
(ghost something or other) in front of the fire. Before we knew it,
chris had to leave for Sheffield and we had a ghost tour to catch.
Karen and I headed for the Minster (where the tour starts) at 19h30.
We met Kat outside and enjoyed a freezing cold night of ghost tales.
By the time the tour was done, we headed back to the hostel as we were
in desperate need of some dinner. We finally ate around 23h00. I had
had to change rooms in the hostel, so was now in the same room
(coincidentally) as Kat.
Tuesday morning arrived, I headed for my old room (where I had left
all my bags - as my new room was on the other side of the hostel
amongst a myriad of staircases). I got dressed, and took all my bags
to the B&B (Astley house) where I was staying last night. I then
headed back to the hostel to collect Karen for our day out!
We went into town to do some shopping, followed by some tea drinking!
She then went to the castle museum and the dungeon with Peta (an
Australian girl in the hostel), whilst I wondered the streets/
bookstores of York and went to buy my train ticket to Solihull for
tomorrow. Around 16h00, we met up outside the dungeon and went for
drinks. By this stage, there was another member (Darren) who met Karen
and Peta in the museum. We all went to a pub for dinner and drinks. I
managed to tick off the last thing on my list of things I wanted to do
in york (eat Yorkshire pudding!)
We all headed back towards the hostel. I said my goods byes and headed
for the comfort of Astley House.
I got inside, made some coffee, climbed into bed and watched telly. It
was really nice. I fell asleep and was dead to the world dreaming of
my next adventure...
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