Focusing on just one city or one particular event was a rather daunting prospect for me personally, each city had their own charm and drawbacks in my opinion that make it very difficult to pick just one. However, when thinking about the city of York I couldn’t help but think about how incredible of an experience the city was. York felt so fast paced, yet perfectly calm with how quaint its appearance was. The walk to Yorkminster on our first day in York really sold me on the city, the Shambles for me was such a fantastic introduction to the vibe of the city and how history is ingrained with every step an individual takes within the whole city, and how the city has evolved to satisfy modern desires. The Shambles was lined with restaurants, pubs, jewelry stores, candy and souvenir shops, a market and a great deal more pack into every street and side alley in the city. Being able to see the towers of the minster the entire walk through the shambles was incredible, as it gave me a fraction of what it must have been like for the people of York throughout the centuries. The minster itself was absolutely breathtaking, with incredible architecture both inside and out. Centuries of culture both inside the the cathedral and on its grounds. Seeing the statue of Roman emperor Constantine I out front was such a cool moment as it made me remember that York was a Roman settlement and that he was crowned emperor in York! The Doomstone in the lower level of the cathedral alongside some original parts of the church which stood there before was really captivating. My favorite part of the Yorkminster was climbing to the top and being able to see the entire city and beyond, words can not describe how I felt and can not do my feelings justice. I called my parents after a few moments of staring out at the breathtaking, and very chilly, horizon, sharing with them an experience that many had participated in before me and many will after me, as is evident by all of the names and years carved into the stones of that very narrow staircase up. York was just such a rich tapestry of experiences like the ghost tours, a pub that has been open as a pub since 1616 and served as a morgue prior, the old Roman and Medieval walls, the remnants of the Norman house, Barley Hall, The Yorivk Viking Center, Clifford’s Tower and the king’s poop chute, and much more; the experiences not only in York but across all of our stops in England were something that I am immensely privileged to have been a part of! The photos I took and above mentioned experiences were fantastic souvenirs, the only physical souvenirs that come close to them that I took from England are that piece of Lincoln castle and my tattoo. But the absolute best souvenir I got from this trip, and especially from York, are the memories with people I consider close friends now, the laughter, smiles, and ridiculous jokes that I will never forget.
There and Back Again