Teatime

After a morning of lectures on Roman Britain from our professor for the week, Patrick Ottaway expert archaeologist specializing in Roman York, we took a walking tour of York. Like our initial tour of Edinburgh, I really appreciated this because it allowed us to quickly and easily get a decent grip of the city layout and anchor a sense of direction. We began outside the splendid York Minster by a limestone statue of Emperor Constantine (AD 306) and ended walking along the city wall that was originally built by the Romans but also used by medieval inhabitants. We had some stellar views of the city from the wall, including the land behind the Minster where the clerics live in large, stone homes with what must be the most beautiful gardens in Yorkshire. The city is one of layers. It is not only a site of Roman conquest in York but also one of rich, Medieval Period dwelling. Plus, it is a cultured, educated, lively city of the twenty-first century.

We then had free time to explore the city’s St. Helen’s square. Brenna, Emily, and I took the advice of both Stevens and Professor Ottaway and had afternoon tea at Bettys. It sees many tourists but is actually frequented by locals, too, particularly in the wintertime. I had the house tea blend and a strawberry pastry (with whipped crème and chocolate flakes). I wish I had swallowed my “not-wanting-to-blatantly-look-like-a-tourist” pride and captured a picture of our complete tea set and pretty, little tea treats. I tried crème in my tea for the first time (something I will not be doing again as it made the tea so weak) and used the nifty filter that sits atop the teacup as the loose-leaf tea is poured through the silver kettle. After a dinner of meat and potatoes (one of many to come), I ran the track and rewarded myself by trying a second type of cider, Aspall, and some crisps (chips) at the clean and cozy pub across the street called Fox & Roman.