My Favorite Things #6: Just walking around

York is such an enchanting city that I enjoy taking a walk through it even when I don't have anywhere to go or anything to do.  Even when I do have a destination I will often go out of my way to make the walk longer or explore a street or snickelway (alley) I haven't been down before. Today (Saturday) was extremely busy with all the shoppers, but the cool and sunny weather still made the walk pleasant as I dropped off books at Oxfam and clothes at the British Heart Foundation (things I have planned to leave behind to lighten my bags going home).  John and I stopped for lunch at the cafe in the Treasurer's House, above, a building belonging to the National Trust that has a 2000-year history including the Roman road in its cellar. The building itself was closed to tours, but I had one of the best scones ever and another pot of Yorkshire Tea,so it was a good visit for our last weekend here.

The tea room and the old streets around the Treasurer's House.

On a walk Wednesday we discovered that the pub along the river we stopped at the evening before with the DeLeeuws while we were waiting for our restaurant to open was under water! It must happen often since the benches in the pub are stone and built out from the walls. There was a sign inside apologizing for the absence of tables, which had been stored away because of the rising river. 

The River Ouse rises up over its banks...and the sidewalk...and the road. This is the quay that was packed with people on evenings in September and early October. Below, inside the Kings Arms pub shown above - note it's all stone and brick except for the ceiling beams (they do put removable cushions on the stone benches to make sitting a little more comfortable).

And the "flood stick" recording water levels in previous years:

In the last few weeks we have watched the construction of a permanent ferris wheel (The Wheel of York) near the train station. It is now running, though I don't think we will take a ride before leaving.  The pods are enclosed, like the London Eye (which I assume they are trying to copy) and on a clear day even in winter it will likely give a very nice overview of York.  Something to save for our next visit!