Rain in York

Heavy Rain Solace

Today: Heavy Rain.  Sunday: Heavy Rain.  Monday: Heavy Rain.  Spring, yes; spring in the south of France, no.  So, if you're in Yorkshire, and you're not a sheep or a "dook," you need a cup of coffee.  Our favorite, currently, in this line, is the Coffee Culture in Goodramgate.

Goodramgate (with oddly coloured sky)

Coffee Culture occupies a four story building which, according to Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, dates from the late 15th century.  (Pevsner has researched and written about every notable building in England, from York Minster to Coffee Culture to the Uni campus.)  But Pevsner only wrote about the outside of the building, which, to be fair, is the part that future citizens of York will inherit.  But inside, is the life.  The kitchen and till are on the ground floor where you can also find a couple of stools and a shelf along the front window.  The main counter has arrayed upon it various cakes and pastries, including some of the best sultana scones we've experienced.  The staff will tell you there if there is room for you upstairs somewhere.  The first and second floors, reached by extremely narrow and steep medieval stairs, each can seat about eight cozily, at tiny tables or in armchairs.  On Heavy Rain days, the windows steam up and the warmth that goes in to you lasts you most of the day.