In England, I got so used to touring solo that I almost forgot how much fun it is to travel with a group. I was quickly reminded when I was asked to join a girls' weekend in
Bath, where we stayed in a rowhouse with a view of the
Mendip Hills in the distance (top). The town's name and claim to fame come from the
Roman Baths right downtown (bottom left). They attract a lot of tourists, but the streets were crowded not for submersion in history but for immersion in the annual
Christmas Market, which features plenty of craft stalls and cozy chalets (bottom right).
It's a good place to get into the holiday spirit beyond the consumer aspect of buying gifts. Around every corner is a band (top left) or a choir (top right) sharing Christmas carols. I'm not much of a church person myself, but I still enjoyed singing along with the crowd during a short community service at
Bath Abbey (bottom).
Quite a few months later, a friend and I took a road trip to
York, another Roman city, this one known for its protection instead of its plumbing. People come from far and wide to see its city walls, so to find reasonably-priced dog-friendly accommodation, we had to look outside of town, to the
Fauconberg Arms (top). Sadly, we never got to mingle in the pub as we quickly checked in to our doll-house room (bottom left), so we could go explore the city, much to Sage's chagrin (bottom right).
Thanks to a great recommendation, we parked in a perfect lot just beyond the walls. We walked through
York Museum Gardens on our way to downtown. On the grounds is
St. Mary's Abbey, whose ruins are impressive even in comparison to the city's complete cathedral (left). Down the hill next to the
River Ouse sits an outbuilding that the abbey used as a guesthouse or warehouse; now,
The Hospitium can be hired out for private events, including weddings (right).
Our first official stop was lunch at
Lamb and Lion Inn, whose beer garden is overlooked by the
City Walls. We waved to the passers-by as we enjoyed some pints from
York Brewery (top left). We never actually got around to walking the walls. We also didn't hike to the top of
Clifford's Tower, the sole remnants of the city's castle (top right). And we didn't even climb the towers of the
York Minster to enjoy the view (bottom).
Instead, we continued to wander around the city, oftentimes stopping for refreshment. On the roof deck of
The Habit, we got downright touristy by taking a selfie with the cathedral in the background (top left). Then we mingled with a lot of tourists and taxidermy at
The House of Trembling Madness (top right). Both were right around the corner from
The Shambles, an area of narrow streets with enchanting buildings at wonky angles. Behind them is a
daily market that had lots of treats on offer (bottom), but we opted for
Mr. P's Curious Tavern for dinner.
The next morning, during a walk with Sage, I got to see the wonders of
Coxwold, which bills itself as one of the prettiest villages in Yorkshire. The town's church,
St. Michael's, is recognized for its octagonal tower and its
regular services for cyclists by cyclists (left). If I were riding in the
Yorkshire Moors around the town (right), I might end up pleading for god's help on some of the inclines.
I enjoyed the scenery so much that I took Sage on a fairly long walk. Turns out, I didn't need to because he had plenty of room to roam at
Fountains Abbey (top left). The Benedictine monastery founded in the 12th century is remarkably well-preserved, mostly due to its location in a wind-protected valley (top right). In the 16th century, the abbey and surrounding land was bought by a private citizen, who turned it into an estate with a hall, mill, and deer park that are now part of the National Trust (bottom).
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