Frankly, it felt like we were complete beginners. Our plan was simple: catch a bus from Brighton to London, take an underground train to the next stop, and then hop on a bus to York. But when it came time to find the bus to York, we found ourselves completely lost. We hadn’t done our homework and assumed it was a straightforward bus ride. It turned out, we needed to take a train first, then a bus.
We dashed in and out of the station, asking about 10 people where to find this bus. At one point, I even fell off the curb, landing hard on my knee and wrist. With only about five minutes left to find the “bus” before it departed, we started looking for a place to stay in London instead. Finally, someone clarified that we needed to take a train first, and we made it just as the doors were closing.
Once seated, we shook our heads and gazed out the window. The landscape on the way to York was stunning, filled with charming houses, sheep, farmland, and historic churches. Our friend Richard met us at the bus station, and we headed to his and Rachael’s home. In York, it’s almost mandatory to try Yorkshire puddings, and we did—devouring about five each. That night, we caught up, enjoyed some beers, and crashed after a long, tiring day.
The next day, we explored the picturesque city of York. It’s a walled city with many old buildings and cobblestone streets, giving it a romantic vibe. York is also famous for its haunted spots, including pubs and houses that have even been featured on TV. Sadly, we didn’t go inside any of them. Instead, we walked along the city wall, visited a church-turned-pub, had lunch, and toured the York Minster Cathedral. This cathedral was even more impressive than the one in London, boasting numerous stained glass windows, intricate carvings, and a grand organ playing melodic tunes.
We spent a good amount of time marveling at everything inside the cathedral. Afterward, Rach and Rich spent part of the day with us before we ventured out on our own. We returned to the Cathedral to hear the choir, visited the ancient library behind the building, and found the oldest book dating back to 1802!
In the evening, we joined a ghost walk around the town with a tour guide and a bunch of other people. The guide was a bit eccentric and more funny than scary, but he was entertaining, making the walk enjoyable. Eventually, we found our way back to Rach and Rich’s place, had our final drinks with them, and prepared for our journey back to Brighton the next morning.
After saying goodbye to Nicky and Surj, we headed to the airport. It was time to bid farewell to England, with its pints, greasy food, delightful friends, and beautiful architecture. Next stop: Malaga, Spain!
