York Christmas Fayre

We didn't know it when we planned our York holiday for this weekend, but this is York's annual Christmas Fayre weekend. The upside: Kiddie rids, artistan crafts, booths and food vendors, street performers, and so on. The downside: Crowds.

Saturday morning:
A day in York must begin with a traditional English breakfast.
Yes, those are baked beans,

The Foss Bridge in the distance, 200 years old.
This is the River Foss.

Walking toward York Minster.

The York Minster is one of the largest Gothic churches in Europe.

Love these old fashioned Tudor-style buildings.

Mike and the boys walking through one of the four main
gates of the old city of York; this is the Bootham Bar (or gate).

We had heard from three different people in Whitley Bay to be sure and have
a traditional tea at Bennett's Tea Room, just beside the York Minster.
Mike and I shared a scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam
and a pot of tea for two. The boys ordered shortbread cookies.

We had a fantastic cup of tea at Bennett's.

Mike browsing over an encyclopedia of Lego characters.

The waitress offered to take our photo.
Obviously tourists?

We had just boarded the Original Sightseeing Tour Bus for our 50-minute
narrated tour of the city. Just in time: As it started to sprinkle. Our covered
double-decker bus was just the ticket.

Ollie and Merrit both got a chocolate coin upon our paid entrance to the
Apis Events Guild of Historic Merchants hosted at the King's Manor
in York. All the sellers were dressed in period costumes: From medieval
to Renaissance to Victorian eras. It was totally fun. (We bought some Christmas
gifts for folks back in N.C.)

Walking into Lord's Manor. What a fantastic and old building!

This man was selling hand-made wax tablets and leather pouches
and his wife was selling hand-knitted scarves, hats, and gloves.

After a light dinner at an Italian restaurant, we walked
back to our hotel. As we crossed one of the intersections
and looked down the side-streets, we saw the Minster,
all lit up at night. Wow. Phenomenal.

Sunday morning:
I've never seen anything like this: Real mini-Christmas trees
with lights all along the city streets. The little cobblestone
streets, old buildings, and stores were so charming!

Our friends Lee and Mary and their son Drew were
in York today so we hooked up with them for lunch and
to walk around a bit. 

They boys posing with a statue of Constantine
in front of York Minster.

The side entrance of York Minster is massive.
It was nine pounds to get in, so we decided to take the free
quick look-ee-loo around inside the door ... still awe inspiring.

Ollie wanted to go on a ride on the carousel.

And Merrit wanted to go on the up-and-down make-your-stomach-drop
carnival ride (that's him in the middle with his arms up).

It was dusk at 3:30 or 4:00. We wandered into The Shambles, the oldest part
of York where the buildings are all lopsided and slanted and the streets are
made of cobblestone. Not quite hungry yet, but needed to get off our feet,
we went into this pub for a pint.

Ollie and Merrit shared a bag of crisps (potato chips).
Mike and I had a locally brewed lager. This was a very cool old pub!

When we got back outside the streets were even more
deserted (nice). The Christmas-tree lights were so pretty
and we had a great time wandering around and enjoying
the cold night air, smells, and sounds.

In lieu of dinner, we decided to hit up a few of the food vendors.
Here we are at the hot roasted nuts stand.

Then we bought a pork pie, famous in York, that we had cut into four pieces
to share. (Shown: a large. We bought a small pie, which was about the size of
an egg McMuffin.) Surprisingly spicy.

I told Merrit to say, "PORK PIE!" when I took the picture.
That's what is in the bag. 

We didn't buy/eat any roasted chestnuts.
We're going to wait and do that in London.
It's so "Christmas in London," right?!

The man that has made it all happen.
Eatin' a pork pie.

It's too cold to eat out at these outdoor tables at this time of year, but how
gorgeous would this spot be to have a meal or a glass of wine?

Just a little bit lost, but enjoying every minute of it.

Walking along the River Foss at night. Gorgeous.

Last stop of the night: Plonkers Wine Bar... Mike had the
duck and hoisin wrap, I had the Thai crab cakes, and Ollie
and Merrit shared the lasagna and garlic bread.