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England 2014: York! Saturday, August 16
Banners in the Quilt Museum, York, England. Other than these banners, photography was not allowed. Glad I could snap there–they are lovely!
Saturday was our day to meet Hanneke W., an internet friend who lives near York. Eli needed a sleep-in day, so I arranged to meet Hanneke at the Quilt Museum in York and then Eli would join us about lunch time. As you might gather by our jackets, the weather turned a tad nippy and blustery that Saturday.
With online friend, and now in person friend, Hanneke!
We had a wonderful visit at the Quilt Museum, where we saw costumes from Downton Abbey including garments worn by the wonderful Maggie Smith as The Dowager Countess Grantham, aka Aunt Violet. I want her wit, but being in the presence of her costume, alas, did not impart that skill!
The hostel was about a mile and a half from the old medieval walls of York, so Eli and I walked in each day
Our walk from the hostel to the old part of the city went down this road. You can see the Minster (Cathedral) in the distance.
and then “home” in the evening.
Approaching one of the gates to the old city of York.
Entering the old city at Petersgate, which was founded in AD 71 by the Romans (or more likely, by them on top of a village already there).
Recently learned a fun saying: The difference between an American and a Brit? The Brit thinks 100 miles is a long way to travel. The American thinks 100 years is a long time. TOO true!
Just a short way down the street into town I found a stitchery shop with a quilt in the window commemorating the recent “stage” of the Tour de France that had come through in July.
One of the blocks from the Tour de France stitchery quilt.
Another of the blocks from the Tour de France stitchery quilt.
It was so much fun to meet Hanneke! We have known each other for years through the QuiltArt list and more recently Facebook. We met her daughter and husband for lunch, where they urged Eli and me to have dessert, so we decided to try Sticky Toffee Pudding. In England, a pudding isn’t the same as the US custard-ish dessert. Instead, it is a dessert, a sort of moist cake. OH MY. I recently ordered the dates and Black Treacle (sort of like molasses but without the bitter edge to it) needed for the cake and made it. EVERYONE loved it! YUM! Good thing, as the recipe makes 7-8 servings, each (literally) about 800 calories. This way if everyone eats it, I won’t eat all of it and weigh 800 pounds. THANK YOU Hanneke and family for coming down to York for lunch!
Wandering about the pedestrian zone of old York. This city is absolutely stunning, picturesque, loaded with history, and not a hustle-bustle kind of frenetic place but one where you can walk, savor, enjoy.
Eli got up late morning and made his way into town. On the way, he passed the York Museum. Outside was a stand with wild birds: hawks and owls. So I promised after lunch we could go see them. The owls ended up being one of the highlights of the trip for Eli.
If you paid a modest sum to help support the wildlife and rehab group, you could hold the owls. This one is an Asian Wood Owl. Did you see that, a HAPPY teen. Yes, methinks working with animals is a good future for him!
The owl is getting acquainted with Eli (wearing a gauntlet), his handler helping.
Petting the owl. SO soft!
There were many hawks and owls, about 8 total. I must’ve taken 100+ photos–resource imagery.
A little owl.
Barn owl.
LOOK at those stunning feathers on the barn owl!
Great horned owl. I realized later that I can spot myself reflected in his eye…I’m just to the left of the sky, holding up the camera!
That Asian owl. Glorious!
Then we went to the York Museum. There is a place called Jorvik that is described by some guide books as a bucket list place for Brits to visit, by others as “Disney version of Viking York.” It looks to be a great interactive, history-based place for families. We opted for the greater range of real artifacts at the Museum.
This urn is of an African Style said to have been introduced by Emperor Septimius Severus circa 300 AD; this may resemble his wife. WOW!
Not the best photo, but actual leather shoes from Vikings, circa 1000 AD.
Embroidered woman’s cap, 16th century.
And LOOKIT these massive antlers! Horns of a Gian Red Deer, which went extinct about 7000 years ago.
Standing underneath the horns, looking up. They are probably 10 feet wide?
Nose piece from the York Helmet, an Anglian warriors helmet circa 1000 AD. I love the design work. Probably an inch wide.
The Middleham Jewel. Described as “the finest piece of medieval fold-working ever found in England” discovered near Middleham Castle, dates to 1450-1500 AD.
What a day! My only frustration is that I didn’t take the time to sketch then (can you imagine a teen waiting an hour for mom to sketch? I couldn’t either.) And I haven’t made time since I got back, either…..I MUST SKETCH! So much esign inspiration!
We trekked back to the Hostel, had a remarkably good dinner there and I had another Pimm’s. The next day, Anna! Another internet friend, another day in the old city.
November 2nd, 2014 at 10:19 am
Eli is one happy camper! His face lights up, holding the owls..they are so very beautiful!
November 2nd, 2014 at 11:32 am
Thank you for sharing! Loved the owls with Eli!
York is a fantastic city. Did you fit in a visit to the Railway Museum?
I recall you were in London earlier on your trip. Had they started to install the Poppy exhibit at the Tower of London while you were there?
November 3rd, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Sarah, your adventures are so fun. Really appreciate your perspective on things. Great entry!!
November 3rd, 2014 at 5:02 pm
Thank you for the gorgeous owl photos! Or should I than Eli for spotting them?
November 5th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
And here we are again! My favourite city. I love to think that you can go back 110…200…300…etc, etc years ago and someone like me was walking along through the city! Amazing!
My husband grew up in York and my MIL (94!) still lives there. Walking on the walls was one of the wonderful activities just before we were engaged!
And the photos of Bootham Bar…very familiar. I stayed with her one summer when she had broken her leg. This was the direction I entered the city.
Sandy in the UK
November 18th, 2014 at 11:32 pm
In 1978 my parents took our entire family for a 6 week vacation of England and Scotland and one of the highlights was visiting York and the York Museum! Actually my 82 year old Dad and I were talking about that experience just the other day. My Dad is an incredible history buff and this was his second or possibly even his third trip to York. He was our tour guide and what an experience it was! Some day I will get back. Really enjoying your posts about your trip! In 1975 my sister and I spent a few months travelling in England and I think we spent an entire 7 days at the V&A sketching and soaking it all in. So much inspiration! And in the days before digital, not near enough photos taken..too bad, eh.