England 08/05

While York Station was quite attractive I thought the forecourt entrance was rather disgusting and really needs an overhaul. Grubby, grimy, grim, ghastly, gross...you get the idea. 

The station roof from a distance was stunning. 

Our first night we dined at our hotel and that was fine. The buffet breakfast was included and next morning we really enjoyed the breakfast together. Sister 1 and her partner headed off toward the city centre while we returned to York Station to meet our friend from London, Marie, who had travelled up from London to just see us and keep company for a few hours. 

The internet can be a bad place for some but wow, has it given me some wonderful experiences. Just by she finding my blog and/or I finding hers, we connected and we met up in London several years ago. We met again in London in 2019. I hope she is not reading this because what I will say is Marie is intelligent, smart, knowledgeable, non judgemental, caring and best of all great company, good for a laugh and just such a nice person to keep company with. Her blogs are  62 and the next 10 pathways, detailing her visits to the areas surrounding every London overground stations and a more personal blog After 60 the next ten Part 2: 70 and onwards, mostly about her travels and visits to English attractions. 

These are a mix of photos, some from the evening before. 

Not a Disney or Mattel toy to be seen.

The evening before, a ghost walk tour group assembled. 

The light was fading as one of us took this snap of York Minster. 

The Micklegate Bar (gate) near our hotel. 

We caught a taxi with Marie to the centre of town. She is fit and would have walked. We are not. I think we just wandered, chatting away and not taking too much notice of anything. Marie suggested we might lunch at this place, Ask Italian. 

It was just a weekday but quite busy. I doubt tourism ever stops in York. While it looks quite grand, the prices were reasonable, the food good and the service excellent. I recommend Ask Italian in York. 

We wandered about some more and then the three of us met up with Sister 1 and her partner for afternoon tea at Bennett's Cafe. I think afterwards we wandered some more with Marie and we were near a taxi rank where she could catch a cab to the station to return to London. No, she walked from there to the station. It was just so lovely to see her again.

This is a bit of a Shambles. 

This statue looks new at York Minster, and it is.

We were back in town with the sister for dinner at York's oldest hotel, a title that seems to be claimed by a number of such venues. I think the pub was Ye Olde Starre Inne. Damning with faint praise, it was ok.

Over dinner Sister told us that her grandson who was staying in her house to look after her cat had locked himself out and as such the cat was alone and would be until two days later when she returned. The cat had some dry food to eat, but not a lot. Sister 1 had recently needed her spare keys kept by her son and she had not returned them. Her first born grandson not only locked himself out, but his phone and wallet with his transport pass, university card and bank cards were all in his wallet. He was close to tears when he spoke to his grandmother and confessed how stupid he had been. Hey, none of us have ever locked ourselves out, have we. He is not an outgoing lad and in spite of his parents having Geordie accents, he does not. His accent is very neutral British. R did once engage him in conversation at an earlier family gathering. He is also a musician, although I don't know details. 

Sister 1 told us about what they had done that day before we met for afternoon tea, and I was gobsmacked at how far they had walked. There were repercussions. 

We met up before our hotel breakfast the next day and overnight Sister 1's partner had a bad angina attack, and along with her cat being locked in alone at home, they were cutting short and had booked train seats later that morning to return home. 

After breakfast they checked out and headed for the station. R and I were all alone. In spite of our concern at their situation, it was rather good to be alone.