Had to stop earlier. Bus pulled away from stop and started shaking to muck. Anyways… It never registered that this country has had major civilization for over two thousand years. On the bus trip, we followed roads that passed through castle gates barely wide enough for the bus. We drove through villages where the newest building had to have been 300 years old. We drove over the moors, seemingly untouched by human hand,until you saw the tumbled over stone wall or battlement or cottage. Watching the sheep as we passed until we finally came to places where the sheep freely wandered across the road. There is not one part of this island that has not been claimed by man, reclaimed by nature, reshaped in a continuous struggle between the two opposing forces.
Whitby was incredible. I’m freezing my ass off, but it’s incredible. The hostel is right next to the old abbey, at the top of the 199 steps as described in Dracula. The seaside is amazing. The only real drawback is that it feels like UB in january – the only thing missing is the snow. I got in around 5:30, and was immediately glad I packed my leather jacket. I wandered around the streets for awhile, mostly on the East, medival side of town.