Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

This morning, we departed our lodgings at Tynemouth and then drove a short distance to nearby Tynemouth Castle to take pictures and view the beach scenery.

Grand Hotel, Tynemouth, England

Tynemouth Castle, England

Beach at Tynemouth, England

Next to York in N.E.England. This city can trace its origins back to the Romans in AD 71. First a military fort and then civilian town known as Eboracum. After the Romans departed in the 5th century there was an interregnum of 200 years then a Viking settlement grew up and prospered during period 866-1066. This town was known as Yorvik which has been extensively excavated with information gathered used to construct a re-enactment experience also known as Yorvik. We visited this popular visitor attraction which entails a journey into the past on powered gondolas at below street level.

10th C AD Viking, Yorvik, England

Viking Yorvik, York

Yorvik, Viking Exhibition, York

Next, we walked around the historic town centre in which there was a major food fair in process, which was opportune for lunch.

York Minster, York, England

Next we viewed exterior of the famous Minster (Cathedral) and then re-joined the tour bus for onward journey to Cambridge where we duly arrived about 7.00pm. On the way we encountered a stunning double rainbow, a picture of which can be seen below (taken through the Tour Bus windshield).

Rainbow, Cambridge, England

Weather today has been mixed: sunshine and showers.

Tomorrow, we visit Cambridge.

York, in North East England, was established as ‘Eboracum’ around AD71 and from thereon was established as a combined Roman military and civilian base for the succeeding 300 years or so. In fact in AD208 the Emperor Septimus Severus established  his Imperial Court here and ruled the empire from York for a period of three years whilst campaigning in Scotland.

Below are provided a section of images representing tangible remains of the Roman era.

Here is a 8m high Roman column which was found under the nearby Minster tower in 1967-72. This column was originally one of 16 supporting the roof of the Basilica.

Roman Column, York Minster, England

continue reading…

View from atop York Minster

This evening, my theme is the ancient English city of York which has  long history dating back at least 2000 years.

In the Roman era (AD43-410) York (orEboracum ) was a very important Roman city, the remains of which are still evident, principally the foundations of the still extant city wall, baths, Multangular Tower, Bootham Bar and supporting column for the Basilica.

After the Romans left the next major development of the city occurred when the Vikings arrived from Scandinavia and developed Yorvik into a major settlement and trading port. Much archaealogy remains from this period to the extent that a major visitor attraction called Yorvik has been established which has proved extremely popular. Yorvik is accessed via small train/gondola which carries visitors round the re-created streets of Viking Yorvik together with the authentic sites and smells of the era.

Arguably, the piece de resistance is the medieval Minster or Cathedral. This is Anglican denomination and the seat of the Archbishop of York who ranks no 2 in the Church of England hierarchy. The Minster is stupendous building which attracts vast numbers of tourists each year.

York is one of my favourite cities and I look forward to visiting again when opportunity permits. continue reading…