When traveling for an extended period of time, alternating contrasting stops can add a refresh. We have been enjoying the country; however, the city calls.
York Minster: the city’s crown, carved in stone
We begin the return to city life in York. York is a walled city with a cathedral dating back to the 7th century. It houses an extensive collection of colored, painted, and stained glass. The windows are as large as a tennis court, stretching toward the sky and depicting tales of redemption (and possible damnation). A knowledgeable guide led us through the centuries as she highlighted the secrets of the cathedral.
A window the size of a tennis court—where light tells stories in color
While things change over the centuries, the stories remain strikingly similar—money, power, trends of popular opinion, and fashion curry favor, whether in medieval times or today.
York Minster, 1984—our honeymoon trip, just days after the great fire that devastated the cathedral
A fire devastated the roof of the cathedral just days before we arrived in 1984. The salvation and restoration of the glass and structure were commemorated last year and shared with experts restoring Notre Dame.
Where math, light, and faith meet in perfect symmetry in York Minster’s Chapter House ceiling
The cathedral offers a “Tower Challenge.” Not ones to pass on a challenge, we begin to ascend the 278 spiral steps with their ever-narrowing passageway.
278 steps… but who’s counting?
At about step 175, a door allows passage outdoors across the roof ridgeline. The city below, now visible, reveals brick houses nestled around narrow passageways and lanes. The buttresses supporting the upper towers are visible from this vantage point, and the short but death-defying walk across the roofline allows us to slow our beating hearts. The remaining stairs await. We reach the rooftop and enjoy a 360-degree view of the city.
Flying buttresses—because regular buttresses just weren’t dramatic enough.
After days of country fare, we discover a fresh North African restaurant. The colorful wall tiles and the terracotta floor set the ambiance for an enjoyable meal. Plates to share and spices to savor make this a memorable experience.
Roll with it: North African flavors on a plate
On our walk home, the strains of traditional Irish music lure us toward the Wonky Donkey. You can’t be down when they’re playing a reel and people are doing a jig. You also cannot just walk on by! The nature of a pub encourages social interaction and community. We laugh with the locals and share some banter. We can’t stay too long—change of plans: we are traveling to Birmingham on an early train.
When your train ride feels like it begins inside a cathedral
When traveling, we often look for opportunities to experience an event. We stumbled upon the concert dates for the pop/alt rock group One Republic. With a slight right-hand turn, we adjusted our itinerary and ta-da… we are headed to Birmingham.
We had great seats! Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK.
Birmingham’s architecture: Victorian clocktowers, neoclassical columns, and a dash of modern glass
It is located in the West Midlands. Not on a typical tourist stop list, we had some eyebrows raised when we said we were going to Birmingham. It was only once we arrived that we (with self-proclaimed wide-ranging musical tastes) discovered Birmingham is the birthplace of heavy metal. Walking in the city, we crossed the Black Sabbath Bridge and saw the many RIP tributes to its favorite son, Ozzy Osbourne.
From 1968 to eternity: Sabbath’s sound still echoes through the city
Tonight is the premiere of Black Sabbath: The Ballet. Yes, mind blown—didn’t see that one coming. Still, the arena is rocking for One Republic, and we had a great time rocking out in a big city far from home with 23,000 of our new best friends!
From quiet cathedrals to a cathedral of sound—OneRepublic in Birmingham
The center of the city offers ample venues for food and drink, music, and dancing. The canal walk offers a nice cut through the city.
OneRepublic rocked the arena, the water handled the remix
Birmingham is a surprise and a really enjoyable experience. From cathedral climbs to rock-concert vibes—York gave us history, Birmingham gave us volume. Travel’s best when it keeps you guessing!
Maureen and David’s Travel Blog 
Thanks for the update. On our tour of England, way back in the 90’s, we had York on our itinerary, but our trip was interrupted by hooligans smashing the back window of our Volvo station wagon. They grabbed what appeared to be a camera bag, but was really was just a bunch of flashlights and batteries. Rather than York we spent the ENTIRE day at an auto shop in Leeds having the window replaced. Your Birmingham adventure was quite unique! You must be getting close to the end of the trip. Wishing you safe travels home
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