If It's Tuesday This Must Be York

Mid-term Break just ended and we had a fun, spontaneous week with a trip to York, Alnwick (site of castle used in the first two Harry Potter movies), Hadrian's Wall, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, and the beaches of Norfolk.  Carol managed to work two days in London while the boys explored Holy Island and England's northern coast.

York was a large Viking town 1400 years ago and the city hosts a great museum that recreates Viking life in England.  Medieval streets (resembling Diagon Alley, as Ian pointed out) and a huge train museum were other highlights of our visit.

Alnwick (pronounced an-ick) Castle is by far our favorite castle - beautiful structure with an impressive history, spectacular landscape, fun activities for the kids, and an amazing tree house restaurant.  From Alnwick we traveled through rural Northumberland to one of the fort sites along Hadrian's wall.  The countryside was rugged, remote and gorgeous. 

A quick journey to Edinburgh and St. Andrews before heading home for some rest before joining our cousins at the beach and a (brief) swim in the North Sea.

A crowd gathers to watch the tide roll in and cover the road to Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

Tracing the steps of the Romans at the Housesteads Fort along Hadrian's Wall.



 Alnwick Castle

Cheesing it up.

Edinburgh Castle was the one of the residences for the Stewart kings and queens but the audio tour told us that the castle was their least favorite residence due to the harsh weather on top of the old volcano.  We were there on a sunny day and it was still windy, very windy and ccccccold.

The remains of St. Andrew's Castle.  Yes, that football traveled with us from NJ.