Date: 6 March 04 Adventures of Gamblegirl: York Trivial Fact - Bizarre law in York: Did you know that if you see a Scotsman riding a horse from the town wall, you CAN shoot him with an arrow in York? Yes a case of the strange but true and welcome to the warpness of England. I mean c'mon how many Scotsmen do you see on a horse?? So after a party night on Friday, Andi and I got back in the car and drove all the way to York - well Andi did. I played the passenger part. But my biggest thrill is that I read a street map and was able to give directions. Every body in this world has special powers. I can find a loo and pick tunes practically from their opening riff. Some are brilliant at reading maps - I am NOT one of those people. Directions and I are not good. In fact - we're s***e. I'm the kind of person that needs to be told - turn here, turn here and turn here. Street names, left, right - all not a good thing for me. So a little history on York (courtesy of the Lonely Planet on line which I've ripped this off and plagiarised for my liking! - Thanx!!) While Briton has a strong Roman and Saxon history, York is special because it has a Viking background. The town of York was settled in by the Vikings somewhere around the 10th Century (yes again - older then all our parents!!! Suddenly turning 30 in 3 years doesn't seem that bad in comparison). Once upon a time it had a big fort wall around it - just like Chester did, but these days, there are only parts of it left. The tiny streets are referred to a gates and the gateways are called bars. For nearly 2000 years York has been the capital of the north and played a central role in British history (hmmm mental note to find out WHAT?!). And what's even more amazing about it is that it's incredibly cheap!!! I thought it would one of those towns that hikes up prices because well it's a tourist town, but it's bloody cheap!!! I saw some of the best bargains I've ever seen in York. I was stunned. I thought brace myself because I am about to be touristy ripped off. But bargin city!!! So we took the park and ride in (they are every where in the UK, any town there's a park and ride!!). The first thing I noticed about York was Clifford's Tower. Had no choice really because the bus stopped right outside of it. Hee hee. Clifford's Tower is famous for the fact that it sits atop of the mound created for William the Conqueror's (what a great name. Nobody except for wrestlers have such great names these days. George W Bush hardly strikes fear into - hang yes it does. Sorry start again, John Howard hardly strikes fear into you like William the Conqueror does, does it?) original wooden castle, which burnt down in 1190. It's also famous for when 150 terrorised Jews sheltering within were forced to take their own lives. Hmmm warm and fuzzy history in that place I think not!!! What struck me about York was (okay once I got past all the tempting sweet shops and the cheap but yummy bakery - hmm want more cheese and bacon rolls. Yummm) was all the gothic and medieval architecture. Especially my favourite highlight - York Minster. Okay it wins - it's my favourite church I've seen so far, although I think it's extortion that they charge you to enter it. I don't think that churches and cathedrals should charge you to enter them. That's just being a little bit greedy and making a profit. You can't miss York Minster. It's just huge! So guess what I did... took lots of photo's of it. Of course!!!! Strolled down the Shambles, down Coppergate where all the markets used to be and popped into Jorvik Viking Centre. Was recommended to see this, so I paid my money and really - compared to some other things I've seen, put some effort into it. The ride was lame (although majorly exciting compared to the £$(%*£$(*%$(*%$(* Whiskey Distillery ride!) but once you got past that and got into some of the archaeological history it was getting interesting. The best bit was the human skeleton that was found. It was cool looking at where all the battle damage that had occurred to him. Mind you - he did have better teeth then half the English over here!!! So that's gotta be saying something! After a walk around one of the walls, came to (damn I can't remember it's name) one of the bars and out of curiosity, in I went. It was all about Richard the III or as what I have come to call him Lord Farquah (because he seriously looked like the Lord Farquah out of Shrek!!!) and was he falsely accused of killing the two princes. (Statistically - yeah probably, then again, a Henry was involved so how knows. Welcome to The Royals, the grandest soap opera of them all. Makes Melrose look tame!!). Decided what the hell and went and checked out the museum. Was kinda amusing but interesting. Went into one the cells that blah blah (can't remember her name and don't have the details on me) was held for practising Catholicism (and had a remarkable resemblance to Natalie Imbruglia). If I was stuck in that cell, I'd go crazy. It was tiny. I had to duck in the cell and couldn't turn around even if I wanted to. The doorway came up to my boobs - I'd go mad. Oh hang on, I think that's the point. Sharp aren't I? Then climbed the most narrowest stairs (they'd make the ones at Warrick wide enough to fit two semi's in them) to learn more about the War of the Roses (and no it's not the Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner movie either!), laughed my head off at the Lord Farquah picture and then climbed even narrower stairs to check out the chopping block. Damn, it wasn't on the ground level 'cause I would have loved to have had a photo with my head on the block... am a morbid girl I know. I really enjoyed York, it was worth the trip. Really pretty with great little rows to twist down and get lost in. We had the nicest day, I could even go sans scarf. Hold your horses kids, spring is here!!! Gamblegirl