Our day at the Jorvik Viking Centre and in York - by Elizabeth

Today we went to the Jorvik Viking Centre. It took quite a while to get there, passing through the city wall (photo left) that was around York. We walked to the Viking Centre. When we got there there was a little bit of a queue. We lined up. This was the first time we had had to line up on our trip.

We eventually got into the entrance foyer and had a chat to the lady who served us about what other things they had on offer besides the Viking Centre. We got tickets for the Viking Centre and an Archeological Dig which we will do on Thursday. We went down some

stairs. On the walls they had these sections of walls that showed different periods in time, from Roman times till now, with Medieval times in between. At the bottom we waited in a line again to go into the time machine. While we were in the line there we saw framed pictures on the walls. One of them had Prince Charles on a ladder climbing up. I guess was that was him getting out of a hole. We went to the toilet whilst waiting, but when we got out we had missed the doors to go into the time machine so had to wait again. When we finally got in there the mad professor introduced himself and they had a screen which showed two people in modern times and we watched them travel back in time, getting older clothes on each time. The background changes too. They were still in the same place but the years were going back. The seats were shaking too. They went back to the year 925AD.

When we went out of the time machine there was a passage. We walked through it then we were met by a lady dressed as a lady from Viking times. (photo on right)

There was a machine that had seats in it, a bit like a one row train and we hoppedin it. It could fit all six of us in two rows - three in each. I sat in the back row with Mum and William, Dad was in the front with James and Xavier. Then it started moving. It went round and showed us life sized models and other things of life in Medieval York. There were speakers in each of our seat which gave us a commentary of the display. I chose the kids one. It went round. A girl was speaking to me on the headphones. It was very interesting. I wouldn't have liked to lived in these times because I would miss the modern way things work. Also, I wouldn't have liked to live there because they wore bear-skins and I think these would be a little bit itchy. They even showed a man on a toilet.

When we left the ride there was a man there who was wearing clothes like a Viking would. I had a photo taken with him. Here it is:

I thought the Viking Centre was very interesting and I would like to go on the ride through it again.

When we left the Centre we had some lunch which we purchased from Marks and Spencers. I had a cheese and tomato roll and a drink. It was very yummy.

We went for a walk around the city, passing alot of shops and lots of walls. We took a few

photos. Here they are:

Then we found the York Library. I really wanted to go in because then I would get some new books to read. We went in and found the childrens section. I sat in this big comfy chair thing with cushions and I read a good book called the Red Hot Chilli. Here is a photo of me in the library.

We all read for a while and then dad promised that we would come again another day, as long as we left straight away. We left straight away.

We left and walked to a shop called GAP. Mum wanted to get some new trousers for dad because dad had only brought one pair of trousers with him. Dad got some nice brown trousers.

Then dad took James and Xavier home while William, Mum and I got something for tea. Xavier wanted to come too but it was too cold and Xavier needed to get into the warmth of our house.

I had a good day.