74 YEAR-OLD ACCOMPLISHES THE UNBELIEVABLE!

If you live in Germany, you probably already know this, but a 74 year-old man just swam the Strait of Gibraltar. He lives in Lower Saxony and he swam 18.5 kilometers on Saturday. It took him four hours and nine minutes to swim the whole distance. There are only about 300 people who have managed to swim the strait that separates Great Britain from Spain.

He said it was cold, but didn't have any other problems. Cold? Do ya think? I'm much younger and you wouldn't see me wading around in September with water temperatures of 16 to 18 C.

He trained for 2 years to swim and dealt with an injury that made him wait longer than expected before attempting his feat.

Congratulations! This is a remarkable achievement for any one of any age, but more so since he is 74! It gives us men and women something to ponder.

Age, it appears, is no handicap when it comes to living a fit lifestyle. Now....where are my goggles and fins?

I HEART YORK II

I chose the very wrong time to blog today as we are due to check-out of our hotel in less than 20 minutes. But there were a quite a few photos of Yorkshire that I haven't been able to post, so I thought I'd drop a few more on the site for you.

Like Munich, but not as popular, people do cycle around England. But no one does it better than Germany. They have the bike paths nearly everywhere and whole families set out to bike on the weekends. In Munich, nearly everyone bikes to the train station or to work. It is just too congested to deal with traffic.

Aptly named, this eatery was called "The Blue Bicycle," hence the blue bike resting against it's front window. We didn't eat here,but all of the guidebooks highly recommend it.

Most all of the lamp posts were this decorative and at night helped to add to the atmosphere. You really get a sense of what it would have been like to stroll down the narrow streets and alleyways in the 1800's. The city of York is truly a magical place to visit.

I HEART YORK!

Today we took the train from Leeds to York to delve into the city's architecture and culture. It is by far one of the most unforgettable discoveries we have made in our extensive travels throughout Europe. This city simply takes your breath away. Cobbled streets, quaint store fronts, romantic gardens and river front walks make this city an experience rather than a destination. Well known for its Roman, Viking, and Medieval heritage, you can view stunning castles, panoramic views, historic houses and momuments, medieval buildings and restaurants that date back to over 650 years ago.

The crowning glory of the City of York is the 1000 year old home of worship and history; northern Europe's gothic cathedral; a treasure trove of medieval stained glass, York Minster, pictured below. You can climb the 275 steps to the top of the tower for amazing views of the city. You can also go underneath and discover layer upon layer of history while exploring Roman, Norman and Viking remains, the jewels of the Treasury, and the mystifying crypt.

We were fortunate enough to select one of the classic pubs steeped in history and character for a respite away from the real world at The Punch Bowl. It has been situated on Stonegate, one of the country's oldest and most beautiful streets, for over 400 years. The pub was connected with the Whig party and is believed to have two ghostly regulars. One is said to be the spirit of a young girl and the other a 19th century landlord who perished in a fire there.

For us, it was like stepping back in time once we cozied up to the charming fireplace and tasted our delicious crispy fish & chips. A mug of dark Ale, wooden beams on the low ceiling, and amber wall sconces added to the period surroundings.

I love York and didn't want to leave. There is a lot to be said for village life, and it is sad that it is rapidly disappearing in England. Too many Tesco's, Next's, Aldi's and other large mall shopping centers. Just like America, the mom and pop stores are going by the wayside and we are, sadly, much the less for it.