Monday 11th October Nottingham

So we left the gorgeous Harrogate on a lovely sunny morning and I must say it made me a little sad to go, as I thought I will probably never see this town again. Anyway it was a terrific day to see the country side and as we left the Tom Tom took us through narrow country lanes lined with green hedges. Past a tractor pulling a load of potatoes and the country vehicles of choice the Range Rover. I was trying to get photo's because it was just so pretty but not many turnes out well from inside the car, this one was ok:

The view of a village from the road, you can spot most villages from a way off as they all have a pointy church steeple.

So not long after this we were on the motor way and as much as English country side is beautiful driving on any motor way is booooring. Eventually we came to the city of Nottingham and as you enter there is a big sign that says ROBIN HOOD COUNTRY. We drove to the city centre and found ourselves a little unimpressed so we decided to go straight to the castle. After two lots of directions from kind locals (the Tom Tom couldn't tell us were the castle was for some reason!) we found it right there in town. Unfortunately the castle is closed Monday's like most of the castles in England it seems so we just had a look around the outside.  


The Castle wall



 

One of the secret exits perhaps?





Me and Robbo, I look like a homeless person here in this get up!







Lee showing how big he is compared to the olden day people, yeah yeah Lee your huuuuuge!



More of the wall

I was quite dissapointed that it was closed after having a look at the outside, oh well! Luckily Seema was told by a local that there was something special we should see just around the corner. It was an old Inn, very very old, in fact it is the oldest Inn in England. The "Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem" built in 1189 was very cool to see. Back in the day the word Trip was not uses to describe a journey rather trip ment to take a rest from travelling. The pub is attached to the sandstone rock of the castle wall and the inside is a network of caves carved into the stone. The passageways were quite narrow but it was suprisingly big with quite a few different little dining areas spread out over each level.



The amazingly old Inn





Lee in the first dinning area, we didn't end up sitting here as we explored further and found an area right on the top floor.



The chimney cavern



Me in the room we ended up in with the history time line art work in the back ground.

We had another great lunch, but I felt a little let down that while I was sitting alone for a few minutes in the room I was not visited by any ghosts!