At this very moment I am looking out my window at the snow covered science buildings and car park while listening to Bing Crosby croon the Christmas Song..."Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose, yule tide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like eskimos." Well I think i've had all of these things in the past few days and can Christmas is officially in the air. It's enough to make anyone not want to think about history papers and economics presentations but even with those things hanging over my head I can't help but smile at the view outside my window.
Anne visited York this weekend and we definitely made the most of our time even though the temperature dipped below freezing and there were massive crowds walking the city streets for the annual St. Nicolas Fayre. To avoid the busy bus routes we walked into town everyday in the lovely winter streets and bitter winter cold. Saturday was shrouded in a heavy set of fog, the first I've seen here, that added a Dickensian atmosphere to the medieval streets and gothic cathedral. We sampled all the best the market had to offer including hot cider punch, hot chocolate with brandy, mulled wine, roasted mixed nuts and of course roasted chestnuts. It was so cold that I feel we spent the majority of our time either shivering through the streets or eating in a warm public establishment. We did manage to get in some tourist visits as well, including Jorvik Viking Center which was interesting, climbing the bell tower of the Minster and touring the Treasurer's House on its last day of opening. On Saturday we even braved the night cold on an entertaining ghost tour through the foggy streets. Our guide looked as if he stepped out of 1800's York with his top hat and cane. Very entertaining.
Obviously when it gets cold out food becomes very important and we made sure to keep warm by eating hot pub grub, steaming teas and English breakfasts. I've talked about Bettys Tea Rooms before but you really can't talk about it too much because it's so amazing. We managed to go twice, for breakfast on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday we went to the main Tea Rooms and sat on the ground floor watching the passersby. On Monday we tried Little Bettys just down Stonegate on the 1st floor above their little sweets shop. With three fireplaces and adorable little tables over looking the cute medieval street with bustling shops it was the perfect meal.
Sunday was most definitely church day as we attended three services throughout the day both Catholic and Anglican. First we had mass at 11am at St. Wilfred's. We planned to go to Evensong at the Minster then learned that there wasn't the normal 5:15 service because of Advent so we went to Evening Prayer at 4 and then went back at 6:30 for the Advent Processional. This may be the coolest church service I have been to. It interspersed readings with the minster choir and another choir. At the beginning everyone was given candles and then the lights inside the minster were all turned off as the candles were lit in succession. By the time all the candles were lit the gothic cathedral was illuminated in a soft glow with the haunting beautiful voices of the boys choir. Gorgeous.
Then this morning I woke up to a text from my friend Amanda, "Snow!" Naturally I lept out of bed and tore open the shades of my window to find the landscape covered in a light blanket of snow. Not only that but the sky is a brilliant blue and the sun is shinning on the glittering whiteness. I walked through campus by the nearly frozen over lake on the snow covered paths to Heslington Hall. So here i've been all day drinking hot tea, singing along to Bing and smiling uncontrollably at the snow. But now I really do have to bite the bullet and wander over to the library and be productive.
I know it's been said many times and many ways, Merry Christmas to you all!
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