Posted by Mike O on: 05.03.2007 /
Well, I’ve been in York, UK since Sunday and I’m having a wonderful time. I figured I’d just write a quick diary of what I’m doing, the things I find interesting, humorous experiences, etc.
Saturday night – I had a 3 hr layover in Amsterdam on my way to Manchester, UK. Nothing of note here except to mention that it’s a bit disconcerting to be using the MEN’S bathroom only to find the cleaning LADY is working in there. That’s right … they just walk right in and start cleaning, regardless of whether someone is using it or not. That would take a bit of getting used to!
From Amsterdam, it’s about a 1 hour flight to Manchester. England is beautiful from the air. I noticed a lot of green, but a lot of fields of something yellow. I asked a guy on the plane what that was, but he didn’t know. Got to Manchester at about 3:30pm local time, and by the time I got through customs and got my bags, it was almost 5pm. I caught the train from Manchester to York for a 2 hr ride. I promptly went to the WRONG hotel (Hmm, it took me about a minute to get lost!) and got a cab to take me to the right place, the Mount Royale. I’ve got a beautiful garden outside my window and wake up to birds singing every morning. It’s almost fairytale-like. It’s a very nice place on the south side of York. Anyway, even though I was very tired, I just couldn’t go straight to bed, so I went out walking till about 9:30. What a beautiful city. The air was cool, but nice. I found a little take-away pizza/chicken/burgers/kabobs place (those four seem to be sold together) and got myself a pizza to bring back to the room. Watched TV, ate my pizza and slept.
For about 11 hrs!
Monday is when things really started. People walk or bike everywhere. Rather than take a cab every day to work I decided to walk it. It’s only about a 10 minute walk from my room. Actually, traffic is so bad that if you live close enough (within a mile or two), walking is quicker than driving, it seems. I’ve also noticed that there are a lot of school children walking unaccompanied by their parents. They dress nicer .. there must be school dress codes here … but they still jsut seem like normal kids.
Sweet corn is a common pizza topping here, so I decided I would try that. Had a chicken, mushroom, onion and corn pizza. It wasn’t bad, but I would still manage to die happy if I never had it again.
Tuesday after work, I wanted to climb the York Minster bell tower to get some good pics of the city, but I was too late. York Minster also has evening vespers or something like that that I’d like to see. I don’t know that it would be my cup o’ tea, exactly, but I want to experience it.
I ended up getting lost Tuesday evening. I could have just called a cab, but I did manage to find my way out again. For dinner, I wanted to have something other than pizza, but it was so late and mostly it was just the pubs that were still open (at least, that’s what I thought). I’m not a drinker, let alone English, so I wouldn’t know a good pub from a bad one if it bit me on the butt, so I chickened out. It was almost 10 and I still hadn’t eaten, but the restaurants all looked too spendy for me, so I decided to have fish and chips. HOWEVER, when I got there, I freaked myself out again. Everything was battered. They had fish and sausages and other stuff I didn’t know what it was. I had no idea what to order and I was too tired and too freaked out to risk it,so I left and had fried chicken and fries. But I did bring myself to try a new kind of soda … Diet Dandylion and Burdock. I figured if they bottled it and sold it in the supermarket, it must at least ALMOST be good. I was wrong. It tasted like watery, fizzy cough syrup. I bought a 2 liter bottle of it and couldn’t bring myself to drink it all.
Wednesday, I finally got out of work early enough to play. I went on a “Ghost walk” which is a historical tour of the city … a dark history. All about murders and the black plague and orphan children being killed by their guardians and beheaded earls who tried to overthrow queens and all sorts of other grizzly history like that. One highlight was when we went down a street called “Shambles” which is an actual street where all the butcher shops used to be. The stories were wonderfully gross and hideous.
I did find a small Evangelical church last night. And being an Evangelical Christian myself, I’ve decided to go there tonight for a bible study and prayer time they happen to have on Thursday evenings, and I’ll likely attend there on Sunday AM as well. It will be interesting to see how they do things, and whether or not it’s any different from what I know.
All in all, I’m in LOVE with this city. It’s beautiful. And old. And there’s tons of history. The people are great. The food is great. Everything is unbelievable. I still have another week here, but I’m already hoping I get to come back and next time I’ll try to bring my wife and son.
There are plenty of things to see. I hope to see the York Dungeons, the national railway museum, the Viking museum, and Clifford’s tower (something about a thousand jews being burned alive) and on Saturday I’m going to take the train to Edinburgh, Scotland for the day. It should all be wonderful!
By the way, I haven’t seen a drop of rain since I got here. The sky has been clear blue every day (mornings are overcast, but it burns off by lunch time.) I’m convinced the crappy weather is just stories they tell people to keep the riffraff out. :)
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
1Mike, thanks for writing about your travel experiences - I very much enjoyed reading about them! It had never occurred to me a fish and chips shop might have intimidating choices ;-)
I’ll be interested to know if church seems the same - hey can you post a rating on ChurchRater after you go on Sunday? (Ummm…put York, England as the town and I will edit the state out after you post if the form makes you choose one rather than leaving it blank)
I expect the church will be delighted to have an overseas visitor.
Comment by: Mike O
2Sure, I think so.
Comment by: Eva
3Hi Mike,
It sounds like your having a blst over there! Take lot’s of pics and say Hi to those at CPP that I knew over there. What a fun adventure:)
Comment by: Richard
4Hi Mike
Welcome to England! For your information the yellow stuff is rape seed. You get an oil from it that is very good for cooking (so they tell me) and it can be used as a component for biodiesel too.
As to the other stuff coated in batter… could be all sorts of interesting things. It could be onion rings, it could be a thing called a saveloy, or could even be a deep fried Mars bar (that’s a chocolate bar containg nougat and caramel, coated in batter and then deep fried-not a healthy choice.
If it were me, I’d order a fish cake (usually made from cod or similar ocean fish and potato with parsley)chips and mushy peas (these are peas that a little like refried beans in consistency).
When it ocmes to the weather, we’re having the most glorious spring I’ve known for many years. Glad you’re liking it.
And as to the walking, well you’re quite right about traffic. Almost every town and city in the country has a traffic problem. Typically we’d walk if it was anything up to 2 miles and I know someone who walks if it’s up to 5 miles!
Comment by: Mike O
5Eva, I am having a blast! It’s good to hear from you, ya little spark plug, you!
Comment by: Mike O
6Hi, Richard. I had actually thought about looking you up while I was here, but I’ve got my hands full just seeing all the sights here in York. But it would be nice to be able to meet you and visit your church if I ever get over here again. Who knows …
Comment by: Mike O
7Last night I did have the fish and chips. It seems a bit wierd now that I chickened out, but chalk it up to new country, late at night, just getting my bearings, blah blah blah. I had it last night and loved it. And I’m not a big fan of fish, either. I think I’ll try this little Indian place tonight, but I’ll definitely have it again.
I went to St. Andrews Church last night for their Bible study and prayer time. Turns out it’s a very small “assembly” of about 20 people who refer to their congregation as a “Bretheren Assembly.”
There were five there last night, all in their 80s. In fact, the main guy and his wife will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this year!
The first Thursday of the month is devoted to praying for the missionaries they support. I hadn’t heard of any of them, but I learned that this little congregation of elderly and widows actually gives quite to their missionaries. I was reminded of the story of the widow who gave all she had, small as it was. They seemed well-to-do enough, but it still struck me that such a small group could give so much.
It was refreshing to listen to them pray for others. None of their prayers were self-directed. Not a single one.
THey also do things for local widows and single moms on Saturdays. Not sure what that is about, but they do someting for the kids and the moms come. I don’t quite get how all that worked, but it was nice to hear they were concerned about local outreach, too.
I don’t think I’ll be back. I have to go to York Minster for sunday. The way I see it, I may only have once chance to see the minster and I can get a good prayer meeting any time I want.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
8Hi Mike, I’m glad you enjoyed the fish and chips and Bible study.
I hope you enjoy the York Minster service on Sunday. I’ve never been to a service in a cathedral (which is what York Minster is). I wonder if the Archbishop of York will preside. He’s the second most powerful church leader in the Anglican Church (the first being the Archbishop of Canterbury).
Comment by: Siamang
9I just got back from two weeks in London myself.
I even went to church.
(Yep, that’s what atheists do on vacation, go to churches!)
Comment by: Mike O
10Was it a cultural thing? Were you invited? I chose York Minster for the cultural and historical aspects of it … as well as a sincere desire to go there.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
11Yes Siamang - tell us why you went to church; even better, if you went to a service, please submit a rating like Mike did. (Put the country next to the city, as in, London UK, and leave ’state’ blank)
Comment by: Kat
12Mike-
Did you enjoy the service at York Minster? Why or why not? I’ve been to the evening vespers–ok, but the seats in the choir are the pits! And I would avoid the mushy peas at all costs.
Comment by: Mike O
13I really enjoyed it a lot. I wrote about it here. Mostly I think I liked it because it was out of the norm for me. I tried to convey that in my writeup, but it was a very positive spiritual experience for me.
I actually wouldn’t mind the mushy peas (I love peas), but I haven’t had it. People have been trying to get me to try haggis and black pudding since I got here.
No way, Jose!
Comment by: Siamang
14Done.
http://www.churchrater.com/review.php?&id=102&done=1