The Backpack Press

I love that expression – take away. In New York, we call it “take out.” In Spain or the Spanish neighborhoods in New York, it’s para llevar. But here in York, we take away. Last night we got Chinese – and we just ordered, waited, and took it away! It’s like, “And away we go!”

Visiting York in the UK just for a few days without going to London or Stonehenge is kind of an interesting experience. I get to see more of what living in England is like even though I’m still surrounded by tourists, both from the UK and not.

And that is the big attraction: York Minster.

My passion is visiting houses of worship – both empty and filled – and this one is very special. You pay one admission that nets you a ticket good for a year’s worth of visits and there are free tours every day led by a guide instead of one of those irritating audio hand wands.

I found the ceiling particularly fascinating because I can’t begin to imagine how those patterns are achieved with the end result being architectural support for the roof. 

The windows are sublime – deep, rich colors and patterns.

There are kings and saints, apostles and wealthy locals – all conveniently housed someplace within.

The floors and walls are filled with York’s public memory, including several plaques commemorating soldiers or regiments who died protecting York or the Crown.

Behind the Minster, there’s a lovely garden where the armies of York’s past are memorialized together. Each bay is labeled with conflicts that include Napoleonic conflict in the Pyrenees alongside Japan in WWII.

Just a very sweet place to sit and think, and write.

Tonight, we have tickets to The Mystery Plays.