Grandma's England Journal - Day Thirteen

4/12/92:

I was up early, had a shower, cup of coffee and watched a starling building a nest in the eaves of the other building of Blossoms across the garden. Christie came in to wake up with me as Joanne and Phyl were still sleeping. We watched the bird, talked of what we had seen and what we would see today. She and Joanne were intrigued by the walkway over Bootham Row and looked forward to another trip 'up and over'. At 7:30 we were all ready for the "full English breakfast". Across the courtyard to a double door basement entrance we entered a very homey, friendly atmosphere where a fair number of other guests were already enjoying their breakfast. It consisted of eggs, bacon (like Canadian bacon), toast, O.J., home fries, sausage (tasted like a hot dog) and coffee in pots. Oh yes, and grilled tomato. Most of the museums, etc., did not open until 10 a.m. so we decided to do a bus tour and get out of the bone-chilling wind that followed the misty rain of earlier. Partway on the tour the guide pointed out Clifton Tower, and we left the tour to investigate. The only access was stone steps leading steeply up about thirty or more feet. Phyl and I decided we'd watch the rest negotiate the steps and wait by the Castle Museum. The kids decided to go back to walk the wall so Phyl and I waited for a bus. Now I must remember, we purchased tickets on the Blue Line. As we waited a Green bus pulled up, when I showed the driver our ticket, he said "Hop in, it's too cold to be standing waiting" and we gratefully did. On we went taking in the River Foss, Holy Trinity Church, All Saints Church, at High Petergate, Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom sits high up on the wall. At Bootham Bar we thanked our driver and went to meet the kids at Bootham Bistro for lunch. Had a prawns and lettuce sandwich and coffee. The shrimp was fresh and very tasty. Back on the bus we saw the remains of Roman wall, the moat - now growing green with grass and dotted with clusters of daffodils. There was the crenelated wall area we had walked along yesterday afternoon, the portcullis, the cholera cemetery outside the walls. Met Doug, Lynne and the girls and planned the rest of our time. Lynne, Phyl and I went to Shambles, narrowest and oldest street in York, lined with tiny shops. Made a few purchases for memory's sake.

Then Doug, Lynne, Phyl and the girls went to do the tour of the Minster, after the tour of Ely I didn't want to make comparisons. I liked Ely best, so I went to Bootham Bar to tour the art museum. I enjoyed the quiet, the walk thru centuries of art, English, Low Country, French and Italian. I found only one Constable but it was a very good pastoral. His home was near Lavenham and the scenes he chose could almost be today. Finished, I walked out into the sunshine and in a few minutes Phyl and Lynne crossed over to join me. Doug and the girls had gone for one more tour atop the wall.

Back at Blossoms we climbed into the van and by turning the side view mirror flat and with Lynne in front directing, he got thru the wall entry without a scratch. The girls stretched out and slept. Arrived back in Ramsey about 7p.m. Great, memorable weekend.