York

Sunday night, it is now. Don't ask me why I'm starting to type like Yoda.

The trip to York was fun, particularly on Saturday morning when we went to Fountains Abbey, ruins of an old church with a forest and meadows. It was like a giant playground for us to take pictures in.

The previous evening, Friday, was when we were supposed to tour York minster (looks just like Westminster Abbey), but they screwed up our scheduled time, so we had to wait until Saturday afternoon. In the meantime, we went to Jorvick, the site of an old Viking village. We shopped around and ate at an Italian restaurant after that. Our visit to York Minster was excruciating, since most of the group opted to walk up to the top of the tower - 275 steps on the narrowest staircase in all of Europe. Definitely not for the claustrophobic or those with vertigo. I think I'll forgo the buns of steel workout, thanks.

After that event, Teresa and Courtney stayed for the evensong service while Shannon and I shopped around that area some more. We went into this dress boutique that was nothing but womens' 50's clothing; I mean, all the way down to the bras and garter belts. Shannon tried on and bought the cutest dress, red with white polka dots. She looks like a Leave It to Beaver housewife. All she needs to complete the outfit are peeptoe heels, pearls and a vacuum. It looked really cute on her.

For dinner, we were starving so we absently decided on a Tex-Mex place, (apparently we were starving that badly). I had a pizza, while Teresa and Shannon ordered the fajitas. No flavor, as per usual in England, but loaded with the scariest spices ever. Ick. That was also the place where I had my first tequila shot with Shannon. According to her, it was lousy liquor, but it worked fine for me.

Today, we had our usual English breakfast at the hotel, but this time they included blood pudding. Yes, I tried it - it tasted like burnt squishy sausage. Shannon insists we never speak of it again.

On the way back to London, we stopped at Castle Howard, a more modern house with amazing gardens. Or I am sure they would look amazing once everything's in bloom. The one thing about coming to England this time of year, I have to leave before everything blooms. Maybe that's a good thing, my sneeze reflex can only take so much.


Until next time,
Laura