Summer 2011 at Cambridge University: Weekend in Yorkshire

This weekend I went to Yorkshire! Beautiful country :) Highlights:

1) National Coal Mining Museum. Yes, we went down into a real working coal mine! Very intense. We got in a rickety lift and went ~175 meters down straight through rock, and then walked around a circuit underground where there were dummies demonstrating old mining techniques and examples of the equipment used to blast and drill rock. Now more than ever I appreciate what a dangerous job it is - I'm sort of surprised they let us down there frankly! I suppose the part where we went was a very stable environment, or they wouldn't have risked it. Our guide was hilarious - he had worked in the mines since he was 15, and had a very thick Yorkshire accent made even less understandable by his full set of fake teeth. He was having a lot of fun asking everyone where they were from, and imitating the way one of the girls said "Missouri." He also made a joke about how he had gone to the University of Exeter...to protest when the miners went on strike a couple of years ago! It's obvious that there is a pervasive sense of gallows humour among the miners - it's probably the only way to cope. Anyway, very interesting experience!

2) Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage Museum. I haven't read any of the Bronte books so I wasn't able to appreciate the experience as much as others, but the house itself was fun to look at (almost perfectly preserved the way it was in the late 19th century) and the town was adorable. There were lots of cute shops, pubs, and charming B&Bs with beautiful views of the countryside all around. Check out the pictures!

3) The Fleece and The Black Bull pubs. Had Yorkshire pudding for the first time, and it was very good! (though probably best to not know exactly what was in the sausage...!). After hanging out for a while we went for a walk up onto a nearby hill at dusk, where we took pictures with some cows and saw the twinkling town lights at night.

4) Hike in the Yorkshire Dales (the next day). Potentially the most scenic hike I've ever been on except Mt. Rainier in WA state. I don't even think I can describe it adequately - the pictures should speak for themselves. Also, see if you recognize the limestone pavement from HP7P1! (where Harry and Hermione apparate right after Ron leaves, and then they have the inspiration to go to Godric's Hallow based on a clue in the Beedle the Bard book).

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnahorning/sets/72157627378675108/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnahorning/sets/72157627254485181/