Across the Border

Across the Border

Tuesday 27 May

York

After looking around last night we thought we would have a look at York Minster.  We initially thought we would just have a quick visit and then move on to other things.  We had only looked at the outside and when we went inside we realised that we would need to do guided tour. This was included in the entry fee so we thought we would take advantage.

The building started as a Roman fort and basilica.  It was replaced by a church in the 8th or 9th century.  After the Norman invasion in 1066 the people of York would not comply with the demands of the Norman rulers so they raised the city wrecking the church.  York Minster as it stands was completed in about 1220.  The Minster has been refurbished from time to time.  There have been a number of fires that have done a lot of damage but it has all been restored faithfully.

Part of the York City walls 

One of the stained glass windows was destroyed in a fire and all the glass from the window was collected and the window was rebuilt.  At the present time one of the large stained glass window is being painstakingly pulled apart and releaded.  An amazing thing to do.  It is supposed to be finished in 2016.

York Minster

In the 1960's they found that the foundations of the main columns had problems.  They had used parts of the Roman ruins to support the columns which themselves support over 35,000 tons, in fact one of the columns didn't have any foundations at all.  It has all been underpinned and now everything is OK for another 800 years.

Looking into the body of the Minster

It was an amazing experience seeing something that had been built so long ago and trying to imagine how it had been constructed.

An example of the stained glass windows.

The central boss at the top of the arch.  It depicts the ascension of Jesus.  Note the feet  

After a fire in the mid 1800's all the bosses were faithfully reproduced, all except one.  The one that wasn't replaced was one depicting Mary breast feeding Jesus.  It was replaced by one of Mary bottle feeding Jesus. 

We took much longer than we anticipated in York Minster so after some lunch we headed for Newcastle upon Tyne.

Arrived in Newcastle and the accommodation is close to the centre of the city.  There is a bus stop about 50 metres away and the bus can take us right down to the monument.  The monument is to Earl Grey a parliamentary reformer in the early 19th century.  We used the bus to go down town for dinner.

The monument.  We couldn't miss it.

Inscription on Earl Grey's Monument - Not sure if he is the Earl Grey of tea fame

The people of UK are very helpful when you ask them.  In Canada we found that if we looked like we needed help someone always asked if they could help us, here in Britain they aren't as forthcoming but go out of their way if asked.

When we got on the bus we had to ask the driver where to go etc., he told us where we had to get off and when we got there made sure we were aware of the street we were headed for.  The bus driver on our return was just as helpful. 

Wednesday 28 May

We were going to do some sightseeing in Newcastle today but it is wet and miserable.  The rain is quite heavy and it is accompanied by quite a cold wind.  Got a little confused today, thought I was seeing things because there are quite a number of familiar names here around Newcastle.  There was Jesmond, Wallsend, Hexam, Rothbury and Branxton.  Seems like the early settlers liked familiar names around them when they settled in NSW.a

View down Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne

Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne

St Nicholas Cathedral

The car is proving very economical.  Had to fill with fuel today.  Only the third fill for the trip and this time did just over 915 km.  Had to convert because the distances are still in miles, just over 568 miles.

The rain followed us all the way to Scotland.  We went through some beautiful country.  We were only on dual carriage way for about an hour, the rest on single carriage way rural roads.  Passed through lots of villages, it's not like Australia where you can travel over a hundred kilometres without passing through a settlement, over here you can't go more than 15 km without passing some sort of settlement.

We stopped for lunch at a pub called "The Lodge" outside a village called Carfraemill.  The Lodge was well patronised even though it was about 20 miles from Edinburgh.

Haven't done anything here in Edinburgh yet.  Hopefully there will be a little bit of sun tomorrow,  If we don't get the sun a little less rain would be very nice.

Will let you know what the weather does in the next blog.

Deb and Den