We started the day at the Jorvik Viking Centre. It is built on the archeological remains of Viking Age York. I booked when we were in Australia. Just as welll. The queue was huge by the time it opened. Here are some pictures from inside.
A Viking woman - when I walked past her yesterday she was nalbinding (Viking knitting a sock).
A Viking warrior
There is a cableway inside the museum that takes you through the reconstruction of the town. I am really glad there wasn't 'smell around' ! The stench would have been dreadful.
There were lots of 'Vikings' walking around & they all knew their history. this woman was demonstrating 'nalbinding' a sock. This method makes a really thick fabric that wears well - good considering their shoes were so thin.
There was a single sock on display there that the archeologists were excited about because it was extremely rare. A stitch unique to York - not found anywhere else in the Viking period.
Intersting that Vikings also lost just one sock.
This guys outfit was all hand stitched, shoes hand stitched etc.
After the cable car is a small museum where these guys were.
I thoroughly recommend this place if you ever get to York.
It started raining so we strolled into the Shambles & had some tea.
Lovely little place called the 'Earl Grey Tearoom'. We are trying to drink less coffee, so we are going to a different place every time.
Here are some other shops in the Shambles.
There was a queue out the door & around the corner - all Harry Potter themed. Notice the 'Nimbus 2000' in the window?
There is a big Viking exhibition at the York Museum so we head there - at the other end of the city.
Lots of walking............
Before we went into the Museum this was outside.
I got to hold 2 owls for £5.
Bliss!!
The little one is a Burrowing Owl from America called 'George' because he looks grumpy. He was gorgeous.
This was 'Sweep' a barn owl. Huge sharp claws. I would not want to be a mouse.
Apparently the Father of Geology lived in York. The museum has his whole library & geological maps.
Not arranged by subject, but in order of acquisition.
There was a small prehistory section all from the York area.
Then downstairs to the York Viking exhibition.
I took too many photos to post here.
The museum is built on the remains of York Abbey. It was destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry the Eighth - what a tosser. This is all that is left.
After this we staggered back to the hotel after grabbing some dinner.
I found a 'Inspector Montalbano' movie that I hadn't seen before.
Next instalment - Castle Howard, Yorkshire Moors & Whitby.
Stay tuned.