It creeps up on you, round every corner.

This is a view down Petergate, the Minster ever present, ever looming. This is one of my favourite scenes in York, I could photograph it again and again!

Minerva

I wonder how many people notice this Minerva that sits above my workplace? There is a hardly readable inscription underneath the statue which reads: ""The figure above is that of Minerva, Goddess of wisdom and of drama. John Wolstenholme 1801"." When I am in less of a hurry I will get a better shot of her, as she is a beautiful piece.

If you look closely you can see a band around her wrist. A friend of mine, who graduated a few years ago, tells me that his group of friends somehow climbed up there and placed a Make Poverty History wristband around her wrist, and it is still there to this day. I am not sure how much I believe him.

Sorry for the lack of photos - it's been a hectic couple of days. I'm off to Leeds today to see Star Trek with a friend - I have never been to Leeds! I am excited.

Watching the Performance

Crowds in Kings Square watching a street performer - today the escape artist was there. He's very entertaining, and can hold and draw a crowd. I was on my lunch break, so didn't stop for long, but it's lovely that on a (mostly) gorgeous Bank Holiday Monday people can come to York and enjoy all sorts of street theatre. I love all the street performers here in York. Soon, I will publish a photo of Purple Bike Man. Oh, he's great!

Parliament Street

A short, quick post today. The same light from the photo of the church tower even made the high street stores in Parliament Street look pretty. The fountain in the foreground is the most common spot for meeting friends in town. I always choose to meet people at the fountain. People have been known, on occasion to put bubble bath in the fountain, causing it to foam all over the place. It's quite amusing, but I'm sure it's annoying to clean up!

El Piano

Sorry for the late post - I've been out for a friends birthday. We were in the Moroccan Room in El Piano, a local vegan/gluten free tapas style restaurant. My friend is not vegan, but is a vegetarian. I love El Piano food - it's all so yummy, and you wouldn't realise it is mostly vegan! The chocolate cake was delicious - yummier than many non-vegan ones I have tried! This is one of the light installations in the Moroccan Room - it gave a lovely atmosphere. El Piano is based in York, but also have a take-out option in Granada, Spain. You can find out more here. 

Not Campus Wednesday

There was going to be a campus post today, but what I just dealt with has completely knocked me for six (my ex is...difficult. I haven't seen him for 2 months and I knew he was around this week. With the way he left and everything, I need some closure. So I had to see him. And he hid from me. Then, when we did talk, and it got too much for him, he literally ran away from me) so have this nice picture of a clock in the city centre, next to the cinema instead.

Ray of Light

I was walking home from the cinema in town (after seeing Star Trek, to which my main response is :D:D:D:D:D) and the way the light hit the church here really impressed me. I could do with a ray of light of my own right now. I have had the most horrific week mentally wise, which combined with having to try and revise for an exam almost caused me to shutdown completely. So, apologies again for my absence. I hope this picture makes some amends :)

Banky banky bank

You often seem to find that old bank buildings have been converted into new and ever varied uses, and banks hardly ever seem to be in the lovely old buildings they once occupied. Which was why I was delighted to discover that this Lloyds TSB in York still occupies an original bank building, declaring "Savings Bank" on the facade for all to see. I wonder hpw many other buildings in York still serve their original purpose?

York's Most Famous Street

Welcome to the Shambles, what I suspect is York's most photographed street. Towards the end of the day, the Shambles empties of tourists and I begin to enjoy the quaint narrow passage ways, or snickleways, that come off the street,  and the way the buildings lean in towards each other, almost touching at the top. 

The Shambles was once called "The Great Flesh Shambles" and was full of butchers shops. Now, the butchers shops are gone, replaced with jewelery shops, fudge and chocolate shops and tourist traps. Butchers in York are a dying breed. Scotts of York, a wonderful city centre butcher recently closed after 130 years in business. It's a sad thing when wonderful, local historical shops come to the end of their lives