The New Newport News News 145: York edition
The following morning saw the Fearless Five taking the TransPenine Train [that translates as ‘going across England’] to York.
Theresa had made ham omelets for breakfast, served with crumpets, so they were ready to travel. They crossed the Aire River, which must be where Airedale workhorses get their name. Leeds along the tracks seems prosperous, industrial in a way that America’s “Rust Belt” used to be. New construction is everywhere—Leeds is booming. It is against that background that people, coming for work, clash culturally. We saw Sikhs, Kashmiris, North Vietnamese, North African, Thai, Turkish and more just among the food vendors.
Having said that, they saw no freight trains bustling about. Maybe they travel at night, as the people-carrying trains cease at midnight.5
Arriving in Leeds, they broke into family units again. The oldies bought Hop-on—Hop-off bus tickets for the day. They have always gotten a lot out of these tourist buses, which tend to go everywhere you need to be and have informative narration via [provided] earphones.
First stop on their circuit was The Shambles, a quaint shopping street associated with Diagon Alley [Harry Potter films]. “Shambles” is a corruption of an old word for butcher’s tables from which meat was sold.
Since The Shambles was very crowded, the couple took few photos; then they saw the young Bucks standing in line for butterbeer. Carrying on around the corner, Ron led them to an art shop, where they purchased a bronze mouse. If you want to see it, you have to visit us in Virginia.
Next stop for the old Bucks was lunch at The Refectory, with a fabulous view of York Minster and the statue of Constantine. The famed Roman Emperor’s mother, Helen, was British and he was declared emperor in York in 306 AD.
The lunch was leisurely, with good, measured service, providing a much-needed break from crowds.
From there, the plucky partners walked to York Minster church, also a cathedral. Carol has wanted to visit York for a long time, and indeed had to talk the others into going [she was ready to go alone that day.]
Highlights of the visit were
· The newly installed statue of Queen Elizabeth II on one external tower base.
· The round Chapter House, with dozens of caricatures of everyday people on the column bases.
=
· Statues of the Plantagenet Kings of England
· Some of the biggest organ pipes they ever saw.
· A wood church mouse to be as poor as.
Regretfully skipping the crypt due to general creakiness, they made their way back to the bus. This time, there was a very talented live guide giving the narration. He pointed out the hidden cat statues around town, nicely visible from our perch on the upper floor of the bus. Ron and Carol took 2 ½ circuits before time to meet the others for dinner.
Meanwhile, the young Bucks toured the Minster, as well as the crypt, took a boat tour to see the city from the river and greatly enjoyed the free railway museum. Andrew was very excited to see the Mallard, the world's fastest steam locomotive5, reaching 126 mph (202.7 km/h) on July 3, 1938, according to Google.
Ron had made reservations at a highly rated hotel dining room, The Rise where the weary wanderers refreshed themselves and made merry. The hotel was originally built in 1906 as the HQ for the North Eastern Railway Co.
After dining, they caught the train back to Leeds and to their penthouse for much needed rest.