Shambles is where all the butchers shops in the city were, but now as the timber framed houses on either side of the narrow alley reach over, nearly touching; their ground floors are all now tourist shops; sweet shops and the such. And then there are the crowds: oh my life. we battled against the pastel-wearing folk of a certain age. We wander away from Shambles and find a narrow alley way which goes under another timber-framed house. On either side wonderful cooking smells came out of their kitchens. We chose one of them and went inside and found a table on the first floor. The roof had been replaced by glass, and there was just enough room for three tables.
We ordered a platter to share, and a nice drink. and settled down to wait for our food and look at the photographs we had already taken.
There was a food festival on, but we were not hungry, but took in the fine smells. I got a new mobile phone as the screen on my old one is almost unreadable now. And then I spy a fine looking 50mm lens for my camera, and we end up getting it. It is perfect for low-light photography.
We celebrate by going to a coffee shop for a huge mug of Java and a scone.
We head back to the hotel, calling in at a fine looking pub near the bridge over the river, as the night before I had seen several kegs of Black Sheep ale being unloaded. The beer was every bit as good as I anticipated,and the pub itself was full of character and characters!
After a shower in the hotel, we headed back out into the narrow streets to snap the city in the golden light of an autumnal evening. The Minster looked like it was made of gold, and we were among only a few people marvelling at the sight.
Time for another pint of porter in the Three Legged Mare before we tried to decide where to eat.
We chose a fine looking Italian place, housed in the old girl's school and had great pasta, sparking wine all whilst watching the frenzy of movement as the staff served everyone with tasty looking food.
As we walked back, I snapped away at the scenes of the night in the city; families pondering whether to go into a chippy, groups of lads between bars and people like us, enjoying the crisp night. And the temperature low enough to make us believe it was autumn after all.
I awoke at five Sunday morning, and waited for the light of dawn to show at the window. I dressed quietly and headed back out into the almost frosty morning and walked once again back into the city, snapping as I went. The only folks around were those setting up market stalls, and those delivering milk to Starbucks.
Down Shambles, there was hardly any people, and I got shots with no people in the at all. How wonderful! Back then to the hotel via a coffee shop for a huge gingerbread latte, and then back in the hotel, just in time for breakfast.
And then it was time to check out, not before looking at the hidden chapel in the convent and snapping it too. and then it was time to go. We find a left luggage place on the station, and then go back outside to queue for a tourist bus. A guided tour around a city is a great way to discover interesting places; sadly for us then to leave it to the final morning of our trip, and then too late to check out the city wall bailey, and church after church after castle and the other wonderful things that was pointed out to us all.
And then back to the station, time for a coffee and another pasty, collect the luggage and wait for our train to arrive. We had decided to upgrade to first class for the trip back, and it was a good choice; we were plied with fresh coffee and chocolates, and once again the countryside flew by.
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