My deepest apologies for not keeping you all updated. I’ve gotten quite a few complaints concerning my lack of commitment ( ahem Aunt Terri and Gma) so I figured I should get back on track. Since my last entry, I’ve gotten to know London and all of its ‘hot spots’ quite a bit. I can honestly say that I’ve become attached to some specific places in London and developed an undying love Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park and randomly walking through out South Kensington all on my lonesome with only my ipod to keep me company. It’s so relaxing. I find myself just wandering aimlessly for a good two hours and within that time I’ve discovered so much more of where I live than I ever have hopping on the tube or taking a bus.
Let’s begin, however, from the beginning of my ventures…
The first time I went to Brick Lane it was cold, dark, rainy and I wasn’t what you would call… sober, so naturally, I went back during the day and in a clear state of mind. Brick Lane, located off the East Aldgate stop, is the place to go if you want culturally diverse surroundings with numerous Indian, Asian, Mediterranean restaurants as well as clubs, cafe’s, antique shops, and most importantly, Sunday market. Brick Lane is definitely not just another street in East London; it is an extremely historical place that dates back to over 450 years and is known as the center for immigration for centuries.The day I went was probably the most crowded day of the week, but the best time to go in order to get the London experience. Sunday is the day to go if you want to grab some pad thai from a random vendor ( my first time= heavenly), go antiquing, buy some vintage clothes or jewelery, sort through numerous vintage vinyl records or just explore the different markets for their random knick knacks. I can’t wait to go back.
Camden Market has been a great hot spot since the early 70’s. It is entirely made up of open markets with crazy pot head vendors ( well at least my fave vendor was a pot head… no, really she was smoking a joint) swarms of hardcore studded belt wearing, punk rock kids AND adults roaming the crowded streets and sporting their mohawks or if we were lucky,towering liberty spikes that probably involved the use of at least 3 tubes of extra extra hard gel. Honestly, I have never seen so many funktastic ( that’s right, I said it ) 1970’s punk, sex pistols influenced people walking down the same street before. It was as if I entered a different dimension. Other than that fun bit, Camden also provided the most detailed market I have ever been to in my life. ( Sorry Gma and Gpa, your Floridian flea markets are nothing compared to this place) This one market in particular, Camden Lock was located on a pier so I assumed it’d be a quick in and out deal. I was DEAD wrong. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to get through probably 3/4 of that market. The amount of stores, vendors and restaurants that were fit into that seemingly tiny, somewhat underground marketplace was astounding. We left completely bewildered and were already talking about going back. Although we were sad to leave, Camden Town bid us farewell with a cheap, mouthwatering treat: the biggest and tastiest falafel I have ever consumed. Seriously, it was probably the length of my arm, full of wonderful, indescribable flavor… and joy. I long for my second helping to this day.
The last of my favorite hot spots thus far in London has to be Portobello Road located in the lovely and historical Notting Hill. Although Portobello Road is quite literally.. a road, it is by far the most jam packed cobble stoned street I have ever been on. Seven days a week local residents can pick up fresh produce from the street vendors lined up and down the road and every saturday, rain or shine, there is an amazing antique/flea type market set up outside the shops/restaurants for all to enjoy. If you are looking for… anything, just name it, Portobello Market is the place to go Saturday mornings/afternoons. I was most impressed by the wide selection of antique cameras and seemingly detective related doodads like magnifying glasses or even lockets that date back as far as the late 1800’s. There is seriously something for everyone. The best part about it isn’t the goods, actually, but the atmosphere. Yes, there are so many people crowding the street that it’s hard to really walk sometimes, but if you take a moment to just look around at the zillion different interactions going on around you, one tends to forget the mayhem and focus on how fascinating marketplaces really are. It’s seemingly all business, however, the vendors have real connections with their customers and seem to form some sort of relationship with the people that take a second to look at their stuff.
Truly remarkable.
