We started the day by walking along the River Ouse to Jorvik Museum in Coppergate Centre. This is the location of an important archeological find in the 70's. While excavating for a commercial complex, the site of a flourishing Viking settlement was uncovered. The Museum now houses an interactive display of the dig, the artifacts and a replica of the part of the settlement. A ride takes you through the village complete with sounds, smells and moving figures. So we now know what happened when the Romans left town! At one point it is estimated there were as many as 15,000 people living here.
After a break for lunch, we then joined a two-hour walking tour of the city with stops at ruins and historical sites throughout the walled city. We were led by another knowledgeable volunteer - a retired scientist from York University who is now an avid amateur historian. Two hours is a long time and our brains and my feet were beginning to cry out by the time we were done but we had many questions answered and will now look at the stone walls, old buildings and statues differently.
A return visit to Betty's for dinner with an Engadine Torte for dessert was our reward for good behaviour.
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| Replica of dig with glass cover you can walk on. |
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| Village vignette with family playing game |
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| Potter with wares for sale |
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| Stone wall with first Roman then medieval layers |
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| St Mary's Cathedral after Henry VIII"s ruffians destroyed it and sold the stone for use in other buildings - now found throughout York. |
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| Engadine Torte: Luscious layers of hazelnuts. |
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