Ship’s log: York, England. It’s been almost 3 weeks since we’ve seen any meaningful sun. Morale is low. Scone and clotted cream supplies are holding out, but how much longer will we ? Hopefully until teatime.
So yeah, the inclement weather continues to dog us and the 3 million other tourists who are here with us in York. I often say, you’re not stuck in traffic, you are traffic. So it is with tourists. We’re all jammed together, looking for some magic.
Harry Potter is the reason why we can’t have nice things. Or maybe not, but you gotta blame someone. York’s medieval Shambles (aka meat market) was the HP franchise’s set designer’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. If I’d known, I’d have stayed away. The Shambles are now chock-a-block with Harry Potter themed shops and lines of fans waiting to get in. Recursive imitations: from reality to movie, back to reality with a new movie set facade.
But if you cut a wide berth around the center, York is quiet and appealing. And you can breathe.
The one of the best parts of central York is the snickelways: the sneaky, narrow passageways between streets which allow you to avoid the crowds. I love them because they’re not cute-ified, they’re just there, as they’ve been for hundreds of years. A shortcut into the past
You might even find the snickelway that leads to this 15th century church, Holy Trinity (one of three, I kid you not), complete with stained glass from 1470 and its curious box pews.
We didn’t go inside York Minster. Sacrilege, I know, after coming all this way. But monuments aren’t why I travel. Not to mention that I can’t muster the enthusiasm to pay big bucks to see yet another cathedral. The must-sees are merely suggestions after all.
Moving on. Next up, London!
Cheers,
Maer
The Let's Get Lost Game 