Happy birthday to my love we had a nice dinner then strolled back over to the cathedral for some night shots and a photo-op at a phone booth for the Telecom professional, never installed one of these! Not sure if it supports VOIP or needs a gateway:)
Well we brought our Seattle weather with us so a change of plans we were going to do a bike ride through North York Moors National Park but due to the wind and rain, we decided to focus on York, which has much to see in a walkable distance. Our first stop was a fort built by William the Conqueror in 1245 in 1290 Clifford Tower.
We then went over to the main attraction in York the York Minster Cathedral, we did the quick tour of the catacombs where many of the church elders are entombed and then up the 275 steps to the top of the tower for a great, if gray view, of surrounding York. We were lucky enough to see an evening service with the choir and organ accompaniment. Many pics below:
For you technical types check out the over 400 large stainless steel bolts that anchor the original columns of the cathedral structure. We are going back tomorrow for a guided tour.
Before we picked up our car for the the trip to York, we made a cursory visit to the British Museum. We toured the incredible displays of the Near Asia early civilizations Mycenaean and Greek statues and panels. Incredible collection and we just touched upon a few exhibits in the museum. A return visit is in order for sure.
Pre-birthday diner on the road to York took awhile to get out of London! Late check-in for us tomorrow North York Moor park for bike ride
This is a big place and fast moving, except when you get on the Hop on Hop off Bus, which we did hop on for a quick survey of the town. Unlike the rich geographic signposts, which we Washingtonians are familiar with, London is a flat so you need the blue dot to orient yourself as to where you are going. There is so much to see here, that we must come back for an extended stay. The city is sharp, very cosmopolitan, people dress with a sophisticated flair, so I am in good stead in shorts and my Stan Smiths. This is also a town that stays up late, even on a weekday. Amy and I were out walking around Soho and Bloomsbury, our hotel is nearby, after 11 PM and the streets were still bustling with people enjoying themselves. Today we will make a visit to the British Museum, also very close to The Montegue, our hotel, and then pick up our car for the run up to York. Driving in London you would be advised to know your left from your right. We are very grateful that our good friend Suzanne is hanging with our pups, and her’s as well. Of course we miss our children, of both varieties. Enjoy your day, more missives from the front are forthcoming. The picture from the tour bus is of St.Paul Cathedral, when we return next weekend to London, we must go inside!
London transportation is extensive and like everything else expensive but you would not want to drive here which we will be doing tomorrow heading to York it will be white knuckle driving for sure but with my able navigator we will prevail
https://www.byronhamburgers.com/find
A Rick Steves recommendation and a good one our hotel is very staid and quaint so we hit the streets for our sleep deprived dinner
Good flight cramped but no crying babies nice ride on 787 pleasant crew decent meal service and nice travelers around us on tube to hotel now more updates to come
Here is a briefer less linky, yes that is a technical term, briefing on our upcoming trips itinerary.
Day 1 September 4th: Starts in Seattle on Labor Day as we board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London depart at 5:50 PM arrive 11’ish AM in London. I am very much looking forward to the aircraft a Boeing 787-9. Long flight but thanks to our friend Bill, who helped me set up my computer with episodes of series, we will have maximum media saturation. 787-9
Day 2 September 5th: After long red eye plane ride we want to keep it lively by hitting the streets of London, perhaps a boat ride on the Thames and maybe a little consumerism as well. We are staying at what looks like a very nice hotel the Montegue, right by the British Museum, which we want to visit on Wednesday.
Day 3 September 6th: Going to visit the British Museum for the morning and since we will be back in London later in our trip, probably need to revisit, as we want to get our car and head north to York and want to mitigate an anticipated challenging drive out acclimating to driving on the left and navigating, what is sure to be a busy London traffic scene. The end result, we certainly hope is 2 night in York at the Hotel Indigo, which we have heard is a nice accommodation.
Day 4 September 7: Amy’s Bday! Our first full day in York, where there is a cathedral to visit and the North Your Moors national park, where we want to rent bikes for a self guided ride in the park. North York Moors
Day 5 September 8th: Part of day in York and then on to Edinburgh and a weekend in the city. Way back when one of my favorite philosophers, because I got what he said as an empiricist, I get it cause and effect! David Hume Scottish Philosopher
Day 6 September 9th Edinburgh
We want to take one of the historical walking tours in Edinburgh.
And visit a pub or two or three
Day 7 September 10th Edinburgh and then drive to Dumfries, where Vern’s Grandfather on his Mom’s side hailed as a young lad before making his way to San Francisco as a young entrepreneur. Thanks to Amy’s genealogical research for finding his birthplace .Dumfries
Our final destination on Sunday will be near Warwickshire castle where we are set up on Tuesday for a private tour hopefully not just the dungeon.
Day 8 September 11th Warwickshire
Day 9 September 12th Warwick Castle Tour.Warwick Castle and then on to Oxford for for the day. Amy and I have always enjoyed the British detective series filmed there, Inspector Morse Inspector Morse
Day 10 September 13th Oxford
Day 11 September 14th Finally going to take a Bath in the Roman Bathes at of all places Bath Roman Bath
Day 12 September 15th Travel back to London for the weekend going the the reconstructed Globe theater to see live performance of King Lear The Globe Theater London
While in London staying at the Citizen M so I can build on my hipster cred I only hope I can find some IPA’s Gregs’s inlaws Susie and David have stayed at the M and really liked it Citizen M London
Day 13 September 16th London
Day 14 September 17 Leave London take the Chunnel train to Paris
Day 15 September 18 Paris more to come Again staying at the Paris Citizen M Citizen M Paris
Day 16 September 19 Paris more to come obviously the Eiffel Tower and the Louve
Day 17 September 20 Fly to London Heathrow then on to Seattle
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