Kathy & Ron Dew Great Britain and Ireland: York, England

York is probably only second to London in historic importance to England. An important Roman provincial capital in the year 71 with Constantine being proclaimed emperor there in 306. Later, the Vikings captured the town and it became an important Danish trading center between the 9th and 11th-centuries. And again later, the town was invaded, fortified and controlled by the Norman invasion with medieval York growing rich in wool trade. The magnificent walls that you see today were built during the medieval period.

Also, we arrived the day after the Tour de France and the city still had its festival dress with buntings across the streets and painted cycle statues throughout the city and route. In talking with several of the residents, they were very proud to have hosted a stage of the Tour. York appears to be "cycle" city ... and we had the good fortune to experience driving on a lot of the stage route when we left the city headed to the Lake District through Harrogate.

Portion of Roman walls.

Residential street next to Museum Gardens wall

A typical gate entrance through the wall (Museum Gardens entrance)

Remains of an abbey within Museum Gardens

Museum Gardens

One of the York University buildings.

Tower along the city wall

A section of the walkable city wall

Another tower along the wall

Kathy and I really enjoyed this city of about 195,000 residents. While the number of residents sounds large, York is truly a walkable city commencing with the the wall that surrounds the city center. Most of the original walls are still standing and you can walk the ramparts around most of the city. Beautiful gardens, pedestrian only cobbled-stone streets, half-timbered buildings, historic churches, and the magnificent York Minster await your visit. We were introduced to our first pub experience in York at the Trembling Madness ... and it was enjoyable.