Yesterday...A day in Harrogate

Sofia and I had a day off in Harrogate, a lovely Victorian spa-town, just west of York with our American friend Elizabeth, who is also completing her Masters in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management. We did a little shopping at Primark, the only store in England we can afford to shop at, and then took Sofia to the original Betty's Tea Room for a pre-birthday lunch.

Even here I can stumble across beautiful stained glass.

Silver service and the best table awaited us as we took our seats

 in the front corner of the cafe.

A great spot for people watching, lucky to be out of the rain. We couldn't

really complain though as its the first rain we've seen in weeks!

Everywhere you go, gorgeous flowers await your every turn.

Our lunch... and of course tea!

Betty's famous staff in their traditional uniforms.

A teapot collage.

The cutest petit-fours you've ever seen.

And of course the best tea.

Betty's grand facade.

Betty's first opened in 1910.

Betty's

The worst wedding souveniers I've seen...

until I saw this!

Back in York walking home from the train station,

we are greeted by more stunning flowers!

and more.

And a Cricket match on the Knavesmire.

This was in someone's front garden!?

Sofia dutifully carrying home the shopping.

Don't worry its not all clothes; some of its just groceries!

A day out in Whitby

We visited Whitby via the North Yorkshire Moors Historic Railway. The railway runs old steam engines, and travels through the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Flat Stanley came with us as you will see.


Sofia and Stanley on a double decker bus. We sat on top. See the roof going by in the background? I always think riding on the top is a bit like a carnival ride, which features tree branches coming towards you at 60 or 70 miles an hours. Its a one/two lane country road; why slow down at all?!

The Yorkshire Express Steam Engine arriving at Pickering

Sofia and Flat Stanley with the conductor

Sofia and her friend.

Mum and Me. Thanks Sofia.

A Pheasant. These little guys are all over the Moors, at least in the Park.

A cute little historic train station. One of these was used in the first Harry Potter film.

There are flowers everywhere you look in England in the sprintime, even next to the train tracks. So pretty.



The stunning view of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park from the train. Although I must admit I am a bit jaded from going over the tops so many times.

A short video of the train ride. Sofia is obviously fascinated. (she's reading a magazine.) Teenagers make great travel companions.

Another view from the train.

Arriving at Whitby with this amazing view of a viaduct.

(train bridge not a water bridge)

Mum and Me in front of the Harbor at Whitby. The church and abbey are on the hill behind us, but you can't see them very well from this view.

We decided that we couldn't come to Whitby and NOT climb up to the Abbey, so this is the view from half-way up, aka a good reason to stop so I could catch my breath! Living on Kent Island (read very flat place), in a rancher does not give you much opportunity to develope those muscles that take you UP! York isn't very hilly either, so hills are always a treat!

  

Sofia and Mum leading me on.

Whitby Abbey made famous by the book Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Why anyone built an Abbey up here, we can't imagine. Its soooo windy!

Mum and Sofia taking a quick break.

A Picture Perfect Day!

The view from the church yard next to the ruins. All the names have been blown off the gravestones by the wind and salty air.

Enough of the scenic views, we are off to find some fish and chips, but look at this awesome Victorian tile that I found instead. I know, I'm an Art-geek.

Rock

The seaside/holiday treat for British kids.

Its a foot long piece of hard candy with the name of the town twisted into the core. Yum!

Time to catch our train back to York