27 june - 3 July - london/york


flying british airways - again - and also know that at the other end of the flight is tube ride, and getting the cards, info, etc.

landed, went to get the transit card, and found out that the bills I have from the last trip are old currency - so...credit card time - and tomorrow I find an ATM. Learning, learning.

29 june - London

hotel is near kings cross - and that's near the british library - with great exhibits, and lovely book stores nearby.

had my first jacket with tuna & corn (that's a baked potato topped with tunafish salad mixed with corn). Yummy

30 june -

train to york. the US should have such trains. Reserved seats, trolleys through the aisles with coffee (or go to the lounge) - and each seat has a fold down table, and each row (both sides) has an outlet for power, and the train has complementary wifi. Oh my....

York for the tourist is a compact town - virtually everything is within the old city walls. Long stretches of the walls are still standing (and you can walk around the town on top of same), and/but I am guaranteed getting my exercise, because my hotel, a very nice one, thank you, is a solid mile from the city wall. closest point of center town. Did the first walk from the station (outside the wall in a different direction) in the rain - since then it's been lovely...
the big draw in York is the Minster - their cathedral - which was built in gothic, and stayed intact because Henry used it as his northern headquarters. Lots of glass survived, taken out and stored during the many wars - medival glass is totally amazing -

today is 3 July - in the evening, so I've had 4 days wandering around York, and gotten a bit more comfortable with the windy streets that change names every block (what is that about?).

I've seen real people in the streets, shopping for groceries (and I've gotten a few wonderful picnics in the 'go' section of Marks & Spenser), and seen all the tourists trying to figure out what's where (often including me...)

things different than the US - in town, the buildings are built up to the sidewalk, and the shape of the building echoes the shape of the street - we tend to build square buildings, and leave little pieces of ground - they build to the footprint. (and reuse and reuse buildings - current quilt museum started out as 14th century guild hall, and has morphed through hospital, etc., before current use...)

...and yet even building to the footprint, there seem to be little parks/squares scattered, which become quiet places - and people sit and eat, or just sit and enjoy the weather. Right next to the Minster is a park - no dogs, no booze - and full of people.

...every eatery seems to have some outside seating - and whether in the sun or the shade, that seating fills before the seats inside.

...groceries charge for carry bags - stores may still offer, but all ask 'do you need a bag'.

...having pedestrian zones really makes the whole space quieter, and calmer, and slower. Our shopping malls (ala Oakbrook) are pedestrian zones, but I don't see lots of people sitting - little shade, and no tables/chairs for little restaurants.

...parking lots are around center city - and center city is where the theatre, opera and other pm stuff happens. People park, and walk -- possibly up to 8 blocks.

...people eat ice cream while walking, but seem to want to sit to eat otherwise - and relax over the meals. No one hurries you to leave a table, even when done with the tea.

wonderful and unexpected music heard -

... a bells peal - this am at a catholic church. possibly celebrating first communion of 15 younsters. (deduction from advert offering to do a peal for a marriage or other grand event)

... also today, an 'in the park' brass band - with baritones!! Concert included Trumpets on Parade, and ended with Rule Brittania (natch...!)

...a busking violinist w/ backup of computer and amplifier. He could play pachelbel with himself. Don't know what I think about this...

... another amplified was guitar and drums - and both sang.

...great church organist, playing all the 'wedding tunes' as part of the service.

and York has two yarn shops

and lovely sales, where I found (and bought) 2 tops and a pair of trousers - all smaller than the ones I brought. (It's also a ploy ... if I keep buying clothes will I have to do laundry??)

So...tomorrow is my last full day in York. I've done the bus tour of town, and walked the wall, and had the local meat pie, and seen lots of medieval and roman and georgian stuff. Tomorrow I take the full tour of the Minster - and probably have a last drool at the yarn. Haven't bought because my suitcase was full, and now to overflowing with the new clothes...so yarn will have to wait till London...

Cheers --

I'll post this tonight, and get pictures up tomorrow before I leave York. Have wifi here, and don't know the London situation.