Today, I kidded myself that I would get down to breakfast at the beginning (7am) but in reality I got there for 7.20am. It was already quite busy. The usual hot and cold breakfast buffet with the toasting machine that I leave to its own devices (I will eat my bread raw and naked as nature intended, not burnt and marred by the faint seasoning of human flesh). I had a fairly big breakfast by my standards, cereal, orange juice, tea and two sausages, bacon, potato thing, scrambled egg and bit of bread. I was pretty full by the end.
I then decided to go to York Minster after spending an hour or so in my room reading my book, which has proven to be a somewhat regular ritual in my holiday routine. Sustain your stomach, feed your brain then get your legs into gear, Senor Watt!
After wandering the streets of York, I found York Minster and went in. Fortunately, I arrived just in time for a guided tour, which ended up lasting about ninety minutes. I learnt a lot about the Minster. Most notably, the three fires it has endured, one caused through arson, one through carelessness and one as the result of being hit by lightening. The arsonist apparently ended up in Bethlem and the guide seemed surprised but happy that this was the case (I think she feared that they could have executed him). As ever, walking around religious buildings forces me to contemplate human mortality. Death is brought into vivid focus when you find yourself walking over the graves of the previous denizens of this universe.
I was interested to learn about the pagan symbolism incorporated into the design of the Minster such as the Green Man.
Amusingly, if you want to visit the crypts or ascend the stairs of the tower to the top of the building, both trips command an extra fee. I was happy on terra firma. There was a neat little exhibition under the main Minster that explored the changes that the building has undergone.
I am gradually getting the sense that York has a very gory history. I learnt about Clifford's Tower and the persecution and death of the Jews who were trapped there in 1190, yesterday. Today I learnt about William the Conqueror and the Harrowing (think mass genocide including the destruction of animals and you are on the right lines).
After leaving the Minster, I wandered around awhile admiring the shops, hair salons, nail bars, more hair salons. Yes, York is basically the home of hair lacquer.
I eventually headed for the York Art Gallery. The staff member advised me that part of the venue was closed as they were creating a new exhibition. As such, I just get to see the upstairs and a student exhibition downstairs, Most impressively, there was a student working on a project as I entered. Something, involving acetate or acrylic, I can't remember which but it looked like she was creating screen prints of some kind.
Upon leaving the Gallery, I found a cafe to eat in. It was a nice little place situated on the first floor of a nearby building. Expensive but very nice. Mocha, tuna baguette and a slice of lemon and orange cake.
I then proceeded to wander around some more killing time until my entry into the York Chocolate Story at 3.30pm.
Upon entering the interactive exhibition, a guide explained about the history of chocolate and forced us to eat and drink samples of cocoa based stuff.
We also got to make a chocolate lolly, which I ate after leaving. The exhibition taught me a lot including the fact that you can die from eating too much chocolate in a day, owing to a chemical that helps to release the serotonin in our brains (apparently, it is this chemical or ingredient that makes chocolate fatal to cats and dogs).
Also I learnt that there are lots of varieties of Kit Kats and that they are most popular in China or Japan (?), where salmon and Green Tea flavoured Kits Kats are well liked. Kit Kats are apparently used as good luck gifts in the Far East and are much smaller than we are used too in the Western market.
I left the exhibition feeling really stuffed but still needed to eat properly, so I went to a fish restaurant, where I listened to a couple of students discussing university and whether or not, you could eat what you had killed. The man had apparently gone fishing, caught a fish, which he was given but then he didn't know what to do with it, so he threw it away. He still feels guilty about his act.
I have returned to my hotel to unwind for a short while. In ten minutes, I head out again for the theatre.
'Halfway to Paradise' at the Grand Opera Theatre was very much a nostalgia trip. I wasn't the target demographic, although I enjoy most types of music. It was interesting to see three of the original Tornados performing and the guy from 'Stars In Their Eyes' who had performed as Billy Fury on the TV show. In some respects, the performance felt like the Bowie one I saw at the Palladium, which focused on the 'Ziggy Stardust' years using some of the remaining band members.
Having said that, when the lady sitting next to me asked me if I was enjoying the show I said 'yes' and meant it, although I suspect the overly polished performances could get very frustrating for the performers over time as there seems to be little room for spontaneity (not helped by the back projections of Billy Fury and the limited information about his life offered as captions and asides. I would rather see actors and a narrative creating a biographical account of the musician's life or else a concert focusing on the music as mixing the two doesn't often work). It slightly upset me that they are selling the show as two separate DVDs (first half and second half) and the twenty minute interval was unnecessary for the audience who basically remained in their seats. Intervals and live music rarely mix except I guess to give the performers a break.
I left the theatre with the audience in a pretty good mood. The drunks out on the streets took the mickey of a group of us taking a slight risk negotiating the road without a crossing. This is something of a feature in York unfortunately.
Oh well, I am going to read, have a shower then go to bed. Good night all of you rock 'n' rollers, you leave me halfway to paradise.
Barry Watt - Wednesday 25th September 2019.
Photos.
York Minster.
York Minster
York Minster - Pretty thing on ceiling.
York Minster - Imposing and magnificent.
York Minster - Geometry for beginners.
York Minster - Reading and reflection.
York Minster - Bigger in the inside.
York Minster - Like an extra from a Beckett play.
Special Insect hotel to encourage the wee folk.
The front entrance to the York Chocolate Story.
Lots of varieties of Kit Kats.
Chocolate lolly - I added the raspberry bits too.
BW.
Afterword.
The Grand Opera House doesn't really have its own website. It's a peculiar theatre with an unusual origin. Please see the below link:
'Halfway To Paradise - The Billy Fury Story' regularly tours and I felt that a lot of the audience had seen it many times before:
York Minster was very inspiring. Well worth a visit!
Bethlem Royal Hospital is the oldest psychiatric hospital:
The 'Green Man' is a potent symbol for rebirth, regularly associated with pagan movements and religions. Also incorporated into the designs of lots of churches and cathedrals.
York Art Gallery has a website.
York Chocolate Story may involve the consumption of lots of chocolate and cocoa based substances:
Kit Kat is a delightful example of human ingenuity. Wafer and chocolate mixed together in a perfect union. The ultimate marriage without the sore words and bed hogging. Also available in more flavours than you could ever wish for:
Billy Fury was a significant performer in the 50s and 60s. Still important and influential:
More information about The Tornados below:
David Bowie was a very important singer/songwriter/actor/artist and 'Ziggy Stardust' was one of his many personas and the title of one of his albums:
'Stars In Their Eyes' was an old ITV programme where members of the public would appear on stage as their idols and sing their songs:
Barry Watt.
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