From York to Newcastle

After our wanderings in the amazing town of York we took the M1 North to Newcastle. Distance in England is not the same as distance in Canada and two hours later we were in Newcastle.

Newcastle was originally a spot where the Tyne River was easily crossed. Here the Romans erected a wooden fort to safeguard the location in 1080. In the 12th Century, a “New Castle” was built on this location by Robert Curthose (William the Conqueror’s son) and this is how the city got its name.

Coming in over the city there is a huge statue called the Angel of the North. You only see it as you venture down the M1, round a corner and *whamo* there it is, unexpected. It was impressive and took our breath away. At 22 x 54 x 2.20m it is hard to imagine one person, Antony Gormley, being able to build something so large out of steel.

Finding our hotel was convoluted. We had to go over the Tyne Bridge and work our way back down to the river edge. However, it’s worth it; the hotel is right on the Tyne River, which makes it an ideal location to explore the city without having to navigate the small cobblestone streets in a car (keep left…keep left).

Once settled we headed down to the river to find a place to eat. We found a bar called the Waterhouse where we had our first Newkie-Brown. It was exactly what we needed after driving in the city. We discovered quickly that it was much easier for me to get a drink than dP; dP waited forever for a beer while I simply had to walk over to the bar and speak using my funny accent. The result: a quick blazing smile, a Wadda uew wan wee lass?, and an instant Newkie-Brown.

From here we walked along the river and passed bar after bar and rave after rave; the people in Newcastle certainly know how to party. We stopped in a little place called the Parisa Cafe and had a coffee. Newcastle has some pretty amazing bridges that reach over the Tyne. One is called the Millennium Bridge and when ships pass through on the river this bridge pivots up to let them under. The bridge looks like a giant harp and it is hard to imagine it tilting without falling apart. From here it became a game to figure out how the rest of the bridges let ships through. One rotates on its axis from the center of the bridge; and, another opens like a flower from the centre. The Tyne is a saltwater river that runs on a tidal schedule, so at various times it is at different levels.

We spent the rest of the evening just wandering around seeing what we could find and managed to find a little churchyard that was mostly deserted, some creepy looking wax figures behind a building, and lots and lots of public art; Newcastle is the location of the “New Renaissance” and is up for being UK’s European Capital of Culture for 2008. There are signs in many shop windows declaring they support Newcastle for 2008.