March 24, 2012

That morning we walked through York to see some of the old medieval part of the city on our way to York Cathedral.  The city of York has retained much of its medieval structure, with timbered houses, narrow, winding streets, and cobbled roads.  It was a cute little city, and in some parts cars aren't allowed to drive in the street, which was awesome.  European drivers never give pedestrians the right of way so I've been run over a couple times.  

The Shambles

A foggy morning walk to York Minster

Early morning in York

                York Minster is England’s largest medieval church and we were treated to a great tour by an adorable tour guide who was sure to show us all the funnier quirks about the cathedral.  He showed us a carving of a cat chasing a mouse right under one of the deceased archbishops, a series of archbishops who had the same face, a pane of stained glass that depicted the upside-down crucifixion of Peter but where it had the face of Christ (they have to take the stained glass out to clean it and had mixed up the heads when they put it back in), and a tomb for the wife of a prominent member of the church who had died in childbirth (this was her 25^th child that finally did her in).  

York Minster

Archbishops with the same face

An angel playing the bagpipes

Cat and mouse

                York Minster has stunning stained glass and contains over half the medieval stained glass in England and our guide explained the lengthy process they have to go through to clean it.  One wall had the glass taken out to be cleaned and he told us it would take years to clean all the glass in the cathedral.

Some of the oldest stained glass in the cathedral.
It's over two stories high!

Oh, and Mickey Mouse is commemorated in York Minster.
Check it out.

After York Minster we had our (*tear*) last bus ride back to London.  It was a good long four hour ride, so we had lots of time to say sad goodbyes to our faithful bus driver, Phil.  We ran off the bus and kissed the solid ground of London.  I went with my friends to see the Thames River at night and, in a true American fashion, snagged dinner at McDonald’s.  Overall a very successful week of traveling.