Whitby

It's been many a year since I have been to Whitby, in fact this was only my second visit. My first visit to Whitby was as a young teenager and my memories are blurred to say the least. On arriving there with Gary I was taken aback by how beautiful Whitby is, it gave me a similar buzz I get when visiting Camden. Though I love all things gothic and know Whitby has goth festivals I just haven't got around to going there sooner, shame really. Many know of course that Whitby is famous for being mentioned in Bram Stokers 'Dracula'. Whitby certainly has plenty of history, 'Whitby' meaning in old Norse 'White Settlement' but it was also a Saxon town before that called 'Streonshal'. It was a place of religious meetings (the synod of Whitby) before the Vikings destroyed the original abbey. Later it was a small fishing port before precious stones were found in the area, the rock needed for 'alum' in medieval times and the black stone known as 'jet'.

The Chef Rick Stein also claims that the best fish and chip shop can be found in Whitby which is called the 'Magpie Cafe'.

I loved Whitby, the abbey was amazing though a tiring ascent but well worth it for the views. I really do need so spend more time there and I'm sure I will in the near future. As we left I felt deeply contented inside for rediscovering such an amazing place, Whitby is definitely a place I really identify with on many levels.