It is decided -IES Sta Lucía del Trampal is going to York, England. First and Second of ESO are going in February, and Third and Fourth a month later.
We are going to have three hours of English classes every weekday morning, and lots of activities in the afternoons. Accommodation will be with local host families, so it’s going to be total immersion. And it’s going to be a lot of fun.
York is a medium-sized town in northeast England. Founded by Roman emperor, Constantine the Great, it later came to be the capital of the Viking-controlled Danelaw area of England; that’s when it got its current name, as the Vikings called it Jorvik. Even later, various English kings set up their capital here. It was raided by the Scots during the rebellion led by William Wallace, who set up camp here. So, York is full of history.
It is a beautiful old town, and film makers have understood this for a long time. Doesn’t the picture above look familiar? Correct: you might have seen it in a Harry Potter movie. Various scenes set in Diagon Alley and in Hogsmeade were filmed here, in York. Strolling through The Shambles is like diving into the magical wizarding world of Harry Potter and his friends.
The town is also Britain’s capital of chocolate: nowhere in the country are there as many chocolatiers, and there are few places in the world where the chocolates are better, or even as good. Many of them are in The Shambles -tiny little shops selling their sweet works of art and exuding their mouth-watering aroma.
Viking heritage is all over the place in York: there’s the annual Viking Festival, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and so much more. Even the accent and the genetics of the people are reminiscent of ancient Scandinavia, as is some of the food, such as the popular Yorkshire pudding.
In more recent times, York was a national railway hub. In fact, few things have shaped modern York as much as the railway. Trade and everything connected with it have given the town a special feel, and huge significance: the Industrial Revolution couldn’t have happened without the Transport Revolution. So, York became home to the National Railway Museum, where we can experience the development of the railway first-hand. And, once more, we can step inside the world of Harry Potter by visiting the Wizard Express.
The company we are organising the trips with, LordsIF, has a lot of experience with organising trips of this type, especially to York. We’ll be accompanied by qualified instructors, guides, and a representative of the company who knows York like the back of his hand.
An exciting, unforgettable experience is awaiting us. Please come back for updates and, come February, our podcasts from York.
