Yesterday, we traveled 200 miles north of London to the town of York. It felt like we traveled 200 years back in time, too. If not 2,000!

Guidebook author Rick Steves describes York as a “big, traffic-free amusement park for adults.” After 24 hours in the place, I have to say I agree with him.

What you have here is accessible antiquity: Roman walls, the medieval splendor of York Minster Cathedral (where we just heard evensong), and a lane — the Shambles — that looks like London did before the fire in 1666.

“The archway you see there,” said our guide, pointing to the one pictured above, “people have been walking through it for 2,000 years.” That says it all.