Day 15: Excursion to Whitby (July 8, 2007)

Subdued looking Coty with Whitby Abbey looming behind



Looking over the historic town of Whitby

We had an extra couple of days before heading back to the good ole' USA, so today we decided to take a day trip to Whitby, home of the famous Whitby Abbey. Taking the bus from Robin Hood's Bay, we arrived in Whitby to bustle, noise, and a lot of chaos after the overall quiet jaunt across England! But if you have an extra day, I would highly recommend visiting the town, especially after it taunts you the entire day while walking to Robin Hood's Bay!

The busyness (and very touristy) streets were
a bit of a shock to the system, but fun nevertheless!

Whitby Abbey was originally founded in 657 and is now a benedictine ruin due in large part to Henry VIII (once again!).... But to read the full history, you can go here. Next to the abbey is also St. Mary's church and it's adjacent graveyard. Both the Abbey and the church/graveyard appeared in the original Dracula film. In fact, in the book, Dracula first makes his appearance in England in the form of a black dog in this graveyard!

Ominous indeed.....

For a moment or two I could see nothing, as the shadow of a cloud obscured St. Mary's Church. Then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the Abbey coming into view; and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword-cut moved along, the church and churchyard became gradually visible... It seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it. What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell.
- excerpt from Dracula