Blog ≫ 2024 ≫ York: day one
Waiting for Clare and the boys at Kings Cross, I checked our train was still in order and went and bought some sweets and disgusting fizzy drinks. Then Clare phoned, there had just been an announcement on her train, make sure you have the right ticket, you might have to change at Ashford. Only certain tickets valid on this train. They had advanced super cheap tickets. They were not valid, they did not change at Ashford. Just to be safe they got off at Stratford and waited for the train coming through five or ten minutes later, which did make their arrival in London valid. And good job it was swarming with revenue protection and they would have been given a hard time for being on the wrong train.
Across the way from St Pancras to Kings Cross, got a few things for lunch and on to our train and our reserved table to York. It's not as nice as the train to Burton was, no wireless charging points, but good. Only a few stops to York, it took about two and a half hours. A more expensive or more easily missable service could have got us there in two, but this was fine and comfortable.
We just had the new little wheely case, my laptop bag, and two other small bags, so no problems carrying our stuff for a walk round town. First place we stopped at was The House Of Trembling Madness (Stonegate, YO1 8AS). We'd sought this one out because of the name, Clare found it first. Great place for real ale in an awesome old building. We saw other people struggling to find it, is this the place? It looks like it on the map but this is a shop? The bar is upstairs in this great beamed room. We sat and played cards and looked for places to go next. This place is popular and crowded, they have a second venue elsewhere in town that is bigger, but this is the original.
Then to our airbnb in the Icona 2. It's a new modern block, the whole thing looks to be airbnb'd out. Clare thought it unneccessary to spend a few extra quid on an apartment rather than squeeze into a family hotelroom, but she was converted, it was awesome. Mostly because it was new and clean like a hotel room, no personal stuff of the owner lying about. We had huge lounge diner kitchen, two large bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Very handy. This building has a concierge, I don't think I've been in a private building with a concierge before. The concierge only works day time week days. There is also a private gym. I dread to think how much the service charge must be in this place. I did take a look at how much it would be to buy one of these flats though, there are more identical ones still for sale. £430k to you.
Walked back into town, went to The Hop York (Fossgate, YO1 9TA), big, and a bit more like a rowdy fun pub, but still great range of ales. Staff all in Halloween fancy dress, a real effort. Mostly Game Of Thrones / Lord Of The Rings type stuff I think. Very high standard though. Then I thought the place was taken up by a strange looking European biker gang but it turned out to be the international fan club of the band Turbonegro. I should be in this club! I think we saw Turbonegro before some of these fans were born.
Then a highlight of the trip, one of many, my favourite Italian restaurant ever. La Piazza Antica, Goodramgate, YO1 7LS. I said before we found one, I don't just want arrabiata today or vegetable pasta I want some sort of vegan ravioli at least, and this place had it. Some confusion about the table at the start, three different people asked if we'd booked after we sat down, but then all good. Our waiter was fun, we practiced our three phrases of Italian on him. I had arancini for a starter and the longed for ravioli. They brought T2's juice in a wine glass because he asked, they were nice, we loved it.
Back to our apartment where they had all the TV channels, and were still logged into Netflix so the boys could catch up on Friends.
A good night's sleep, even if bed a bit soft.
⬅️ Exercise stats 28/10/24 :: York: day two ➡️