York!

 On Sunday the school used a local tour group to take us on a free trip to York. It was freezing and windy, but I am in love with York!! It is so small, quaint, and green! After we had an hour guided tour around the city we had about 5 hours to do whatever we wanted.  We had so much time afterwards we were able to see all of the (free) sights that York had to offer.  We went to Clifford's tower, walked down by the river, saw the York Minister and walked around the perimeter of the cathedral.  We then walked around the museum gardens for a little and then headed to the National Railway Museum.  To get to the museum we had to walk along some of the famous ancient walls of York which we called 'England's great wall'.  These walls were absolutely amazing and so cool to walk along.

The York Minister-simply stunning.  It is so huge compared to tiny York, but it seems to disappear when you are walking around York.  

Our tour guide told us the meaning of this street, but I completely forgot. But we all had to duck our heads to go through!

It got so cold I had to wrap my scarf around my head like a turban!

The Shambles-we got some really good chocolate at chocolate heaven and then just to the right of the 'Little Shambles' sign we went to a traditional tea room!

The shortest street in York with the longest name-Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate. I would hate to live there and have to list that as my address!

Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate used to be where wives were whipped for nagging their husbands too much

Some stained glass inside the York Minister

Myself outside the York Minister

Some of the medieval wall ruins in the museum gardens

Medieval ruins  

More medieval ruins

After our tour finished we were in need of a heated room and some food.  We headed back to the Shambles and went to a little tea room that was as British as could be! There were no more than 10 tables in the whole place, and you had to go up a tiny staircase to get to most of the tables! I had my first cup of British tea, and I thought that Yorkshire blend was an appropriate choice. It was delicious! I also got a sausage and egg sandwich which was warm and kept me full for our day of wandering through York!

Our British Tea setup

My friend Annik and I

So warm and delicious!

York is famous for its chocolate.  A few miles outside of the city is the Kit-Kat factory.  As you are walking through the city you get mixed smells of different types of chocolate being made-it smelt delicious.  For some reason I was getting smells of pizza as well, I'm not too sure why I was smelling that there wasn't a pizza place in sight! After a relaxing at the tea house we went to a little chocolate store. I got a hedgehog for only 60p and the chocolate was amazing! It was so rich and creamy. I snacked on it the whole day because it was solid chocolate, so it took a little bit to get through all of it.

The River Ouse that goes through York

Myself in front of the River Ouse

Clifford's Tower-Many jews sought refuge here in 1190.  Its a very interesting story, but it is just better to read the full thing online than read my explanation.  Here is the link. 

Clifford's tower again. So so green and pretty! I wanted to roll down the hill

My friend Stasia sitting on the edge of the dock to the River Ouse

All around York they had these signs to all of the main attractions! It was great, we never got lost. I want every city to have a set of these!

Stasia, Anick, and Molly on the walls

Walking along the walls of York.  I thought it was so cool that families were using this as their ways of travel in and out of the city.  We saw a dad with his two children in a stroller heading out of the city.  How cool would it be to get to and from work on a ancient roman wall?

The walls again

Stasia and I on the walls

After walking along the walls and seeing everything in the heart of York we walked about 15 minutes to the National Railway Museum.  It was free to get in so we walked around for a good half an hour and saw all of the trains.  I was really bummed because we arrived too late to see the Hogwarts Express, but oh well! In a couple of weeks I am going on a trip to North Yorkshire where we are visiting HOGSMEADE!

We got to walk under one of the trains-it was sooo cool!

Another one of the city signs, with a map

York is so tiny! In our day of exploring we saw everything that we felt was important!

Outside the York Minister they had a 3D replica of the city

York Minister at dusk

We walked around the perimeter of the York Minister right as it was getting dark, producing some of my favorite pictures that I took.  

A little alleyway 

Looking away from the York Minister-so pretty and picturesque 

More York Minister

The fountain outside the art gallery

After a full day at York the bus took us back to Leeds where we all went to bed because we were so exhausted and cold.  Today is my first day of classes!!!
-G

Course Induction, Kirkgate Markets, City Walk, and Headingly!

On Wednesday I had my course induction which was basically an orientation.  We walked there and it was actually sunny out! I absolutely love Leeds every building looks historic, I just love walking around because all of the buildings are so fun to look at, each one seems different to me! After induction me and four other American girls went together and got lunch from a little sandwich place called brods. I got a bacon, brie (thinking of you Bailey Katz!!) and fruit chutney melt, and it was delicious!! Every time we go out to eat I try to get something that sounds good, but I have not had before.  This sandwich was a great choice! I also saw that they had ginger beer so I tried one of those, but it was a miss.  It was way too gingery tasting and left a strange aftertaste-I was not a fan, but at least I tried it!

I believe this was the hospital, but if it was not it was just a building next to the hospital that I do not know the name of. I just loved the architecture!

I loved the design of this hotel, it looked so historic.  There are a fair amount of "Victoria" named places, I need to figure out the history behind the name!

My brie, bacon, and fruit chutney (similar to jelly) melt. nom nom nom

Ginger beer. Pretty bottle and label on the outside, not so good inside.

Later that night I went with my flatmate Ariana who is from Barcelona and some other international students to watch the Barcelona-Real Madrid football game! It was so much fun!

On our walk back we got a little lost and ended up on a street that reminded me of Privet Drive! So obviously I took a picture!!

On Thursday my friend Stasia and I decided to explore Leeds so we went to the largest indoor market in Europe, Kirkgate Markets.  It was filled with fresh meat, fish, produce, and little food stalls.  I had my first fish and chips! It was delicious.  Afterwards we wandered up and down Brigate, a street that is closed off to traffic and is lined with shops.  I loved every minute of it! There were some street performers, and tons of people! We want to go back on the weekend when there will be more street performers.  

Brigate 

Arcades=little indoor malls.  This one had all of the very expensive fashion

Brigate Again

Fish & Chips!

Today (Saturday) we had a guided city walk that we went on which was very interesting and informative! I had already explored a good amount of Leeds at other times, but the guide gave us lots of background information on Leeds and tips about the city!

Leeds Town Hall-designed by Cuthbert Brodrick and built in 1858 it is primarily used for concerts and civic functions today.  There are four lions in front of it (you can see two in this picture) and there is a legend that every night at midnight the lions stand up and stretch then sit back down in a different position.  

City Square-lots of pretty statues, but I was listening to our guide so I didn't get better pictures!

Something interesting our guide told us was that the first moving film was created in Leeds. Louis Le Prince created the first moving picture on paper film in 1888.  His film was of a bridge in Leeds.  However on his way to present his idea to Americans in New York he mysteriously disappeared and was never found.  Eight years later the idea showed up in Hollywood.  I thought this was such an interesting story!

The Kirkgate Markets-filled with fresh meat, fish, and produce!

Leeds Met has two main campuses-City and Headingly.  Headingly is about a 15 minute taxi ride from the city, and is much more spread out and green and absolutely gorgeous.  Since it was sunny today we decided to head up there for the afternoon after we finished with our tour! We walked around, then went to a little pub and had lunch!

The Headingly Campus.  

The library (it was so sunny I had to squint)

More Headingly

I am starting to plan more traveling adventures! There is an organization that plans trips around the UK for students for decent prices.  I am going with them to Edinburgh February 18-19th.  I am also planning a trip for Spring Break, which is 2 weeks long! More to come on that later!  Tomorrow we are headed up to York for the day which I have heard is gorgeous.  It is forecasted to snow but we are praying it doesn't!

-G