A Haunting in York

Back from my spooky trip to the most haunted city in the UK.

I met up with my friend Liz from SMC (my uni back at home). She's been studying at St. Andrew's in Scotland for the entire year. We decided to meet up in a city that neither of us had been to, so we picked York. Little did we know what was in store...

Our hostel

The hostel was a renovated 1752 Georgian-era townhouse. It was gorgeous. Our room was down in the basement, in the servants' quarters. Very Downton Abbey. When Liz was out of the room, I was watching some TV. Out of the corner of my eye, I see this humanoid shape (like seeing a person through a thick fog) go through our door and walk through the wall. Initially, I didn't really understand what was going on, but upon reflection I realised that I'd seen a ghost. Yikes!

Liz and I explored the city, no specific destination in mind. We wandered into clothing shops and marveled over the fashions of the UK.

I had a proper Steak and Ale Pie for lunch

We had dinner at an Italian Restaurant. It was awesome. I had Gnocchi for the first time in ages. I had chocolate cake for dessert. So decadent!

The next day, we had breakfast in town at Bagel Nash (We slept through the hostel's breakfast). After, we went to the York Castle Museum.

Daily life through the years exhibit

They even had a Chinese exhibit!

They have a street-size recreation of Victorian York shops. It oscillated between day and night. It was such a treat to walk through.

Pseudo-Victorian Alleyway

Is it weird that the undertaker's shop was the most brightly lit?

The other half of the museum had some more recent history...

I feel like I'm looking at the Iron Throne 

WWII-era uniforms 

There was even a 1960's exhibit!

The original Doctor Who!

Restraints from York Prison. Some were alleged to have been used on notorious highwayman Dick Turpin.

After the museum, I went to Clifford's Tower.

Memorial plaque marking when 150 Jews were killed in a pogrom  in 1190 after seeking safety in the tower.

York Minster

We met up with one of Liz's friends from St. Andrew's (Zoe) as well as a friend of the friend (Abby). We hung out in a coffee shop and talked about York (since the two friends are from there). They were very interested in our ghost story! We even asked the guy sweeping the floor of the coffee place if he'd had any ghost experiences. He said that he used to work in a pub that was apparently haunted by a ghost cat. Spooky! We continued our adventures. Abby had to leave early, but the rest of us continued to explore. I tried proper British fudge (not chocolate-flavoured!). I also continued in my quest to find a milkshake like the ones at home (the ones I've experienced so far have been just milk that shakes! Nothing quite as thick and brain-freeze-inducing as ones in the States!).

Candid shot of Liz, haha.

Unfortunately, we didn't go into York Minster. It was crazy expensive, even with a student discount. You also had to go with a tour group, no wondering around by yourself.

We finished up a solid day with a trip to Nando's! Neither Liz not Zoe had been there before, so I got to show them the ropes.

Mango-Lime chicken pitta with garlic bread 

Liz (L) and Zoe (R)

We walked Zoe to where she parked her moped. She let us each take it for a spin in the parking lot!! It was so cool. I'd never done anything like that before. What an awesome experience!

Liz and I left the next morning, bright and early from the York train station.

Shot on the run of the city walls

View from the train station 

Waiting for my train to Manchester-Piccadilly

I feel like I've been on trains more times this month than in the past decade. And you can bet there that there are more railroad adventures to come!

I feel like this music is appropriate.

Cheers!

Aquae Sulis

Shwmae from Bath! (Shwmae is hello in Welsh, I am learning a tiny bit!)

Monday morning, I hopped on another train with my friends Kirsten W. and Olivia. We travelled to the nearby city of Bath. The weather was freezing. Normally I wouldn't mind, but the wind was especially nasty.

Anyways, Bath is so-called because of the Roman Baths built around the hotsprings there.

Queue of schoolchildren

The water did look appealing, but it's not safe for people to jump in. Lots of nasty stuff in there.

The Great Bath viewed from the walkway above.

Walkway

Hello, Bath Abbey

Kirsten photobombing

It fascinating to see all the Roman artefacts. 

The famous Gorgon of Bath

Evidence of soldiers in Bath 

Skeletal Roman

Hippocampus mosaic

Roman dog!

Minerva Sulis, divine patroness of the hot springs

Roman curses written on lead and left for Minerva Sulis to enact.

Roman coins through the ages, fished from the pools. Some are even counterfeit!

Roman coins 

What the baths looked like back in Roman times

The baths outside were awesome.

Me beside the Great Bath

Schoolchildren in fluorescent vests 

There's a guy dressed as a Roman! He walked by Oliva and me with a hearty "Salve".

The cold "Plunge Pool". Those shiny bits are all coins.

Being a good Celt, I threw money into the pool.

We got lunch at a proper pub. It was nice to get out of the cold for a while with a steak bap and cider! 

Such an awesome table/chair set just outside a tearoom

Out and about in Bath

We then went to Bath Abbey.

I love the ceiling detail! 

My love of Gothic Architecture will never, ever die.

America! 

Here are some more exterior shots and some pictures of Bath.

The colour of the buildings reminded me of Dijon a little bit (ugh, so who's the posh one now?).

We had planned on staying in Bath for longer, but the wind was too cold to be strolling around in. After getting a cup of Earl Grey, we headed back to the train station (our tickets were valid around 8pm but they didn't come around to check them, so I guess we snuck by...). 

Afterwards, I had a lovely dinner with Olivia. I made french toast and streaky bacon. We had some cider and discussed life in Cardiff. It was awesome.

Yum, yum, yum.

Something else random I noticed, the newer pence coins make a picture when you put them together.

Fancy!

I'll be sifting through my photos from York super soon as well as gearing up for further travels.

Cheers!