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Wake-up call at 5.30 !! - has to be ready for the bus at 6.20. The weather is awful in Vejle, so it's a nice time to get away. But chances for better weather in England is not that big - so just in case - my backpack includes a raincoat, an umbrella and my exteremely ugly raingear-golf-hat.

Departure on time with Mærsk at 7.45, and exactly 1½ hour later we are at Gatwick. It takes some time before my luggage arrives, but finally it's there. Then down to platform 2 and Thameslink to Kings Cross.Here I change train, for the 11 o'clock to York. 2 hours later I'm in York.

Taxi - you do tend to get more comfortable as you are getting older - to Midway House Hotel with the longest single room I have ever seen. On the other hand, you are only able to stand up in the first half part of the room - in the second part you can only crawl on your knees.

More sightseeing in York and the most famous sight in the city the York Minster. It's a huge churh and very nice. I check it out, and also gets the chance to see the crypt and the chambers. The tower is closed for today, so that will be another day.

Back to my B&B. Dinner on the way at the pub Fulford Arms, and the semi-final in the Euro2004 between Greece and the Czech Republic is watched in my long room.

Friday, july 2'nd

The day can't start better than with a "full english breakfast" at 9 am. Then you are ready for putting on your walking-shoes, and a nice walk to the railway-station.

From here i take the X40-bus to Whitby. A nice trip across North York Moors, a hilly landscape with large areas of heather. I'm in Whitby at noon. Whitby is a cozy little village at the North Sea. I take a walk around the city before climbing the 199 steps to the ruin of Whitby Abbey. The ruins is of a church build in the 13. and 14. century and is placed high on the cliffs out against the North Sea. Before this church there used to be another one, but that was destroyed by the Danes in 867, but no more talk about that. At the abbey they give you some kind of electronic machinery, that takes you on an informative audio-tour. Pretty interesting. 

Just beside Whitby Abbey you will find St. Marys Church which is also old and fine. I take a look at that - and then walks down again to see the Whitby-harbour, and of course more of the city as well. I do skip "The Dracula Experience" - an experienced traveller is able to spot a tourist-trap on a long distance.

X40 returns at 5 and arrives in York at 7. Some dinner and back to my long room.

Saturday, july 3'rd

The walk to York is nice but also a little long, and till now I have seen it quite a few times. So today I invest in a dayticket for the busses, and take the red "park-and-ride"-bus to the railway-station. From there it's a short walk to National Railway Museum.

NRM is a huge, nice and exiting museum - and the entrence is free. I spend a few hours walking around between old engines and wagons - all very well kept - indcluding severel used by kings and queens. There are new models and old models, old signs, benches and everything that belongs in the railway-business. There's also a demonstration of how to turn around an old steam-locomotive on a turntable.

After lunch it's time for a walk around the City walls. The walk ends at the Richard III-museum. They have a funny little competion here - who killed Richard III ?. (sorry - but I don't know this guy). Among the proposed you find Donald Rumsfeld - and - Lord Voldemort.

Then it's time for a short walk in the center with all the souvenir-shops - and finally my red bus no. 7 back for siesta at Midway House.

Later I return to downtown. First a visit to Clifford's Tower, an old tower with a hole in the middle. Then on to York Minster to see the things I didn't see at my first visit ther. That includes the tower. It's a long climb up there. 275 small and steep steps, and you also have to cross a roof on the church. But the views from up there are great, and the walk down is not nearly as strenuous, eventhough I do tend to get a little dizzy walking round and round on the small steps in the tower.

The last thing here is the Chapter House. A very simple round building on the side of the church. A very impressing site - in fact the nicest part of the Minster. Most people getting inside the room is overwhelmed - and suddenly stops talking and starts looking instead. 

Sunday, july 4'th

Rainy weather this morning, so it's close to 11 before I head out for new sights. And what's more natural than starting the day in a pub - or rather a brewery. York Brewery has got a nice little tour where they show you how they make their beer - and of course you get the chance to taste as well.

Later another old York-building. Merchant Adventurers Hall is a nice old building from the 14. century, before the time of liberalism. It's was build by the merchant who had plenty of money because they could control everything about who was going to enter their business - and of course noone would be allowed to do so. Not a very competive way to arrange things.

Last sight is the York Castle Museum. A nice - rather traditional museum with old stuff and an insane entry-fee. The castle used to be a prison. Good old Dick Turpin spend some time her, before he was hanged. 

Fast-food dinner at Midway House - room 9. Last game at Euro2004 - would you believe it - Greece as european champions !?. And Peter Schmeichel is as stupid as a guest expert on BBC as he was as a football player. 

To Lake District