Sundays are fun days for me in London. It starts with pancakes - well more like crepes really. Thin pancakes that I slather with nutella, roll up and devour. I limit myself to four. (or try to!) This is the only time I eat Nutella because I just don't want to go down that road...I have enough bad habits when it comes to chocolate! Claudia made normal pancakes for a short while but as I'm not a big pancake fan normally I was so happy she went back to the "crepe style".
While you can see a bit of the street art on Brick Lane you usually have to walk down an alley or side street to see most of them. A lot is just stickers with painting but there are some great ones too.
No shortage of Trump street art!
This is one of the nicer side streets off Brick Lane. There are beautiful houses here that were once occupied by the Huguenots. The French Huguenot people adhered to the Calvinist tradition of Protestantism. To make a long story short they were persecuted and murdered in predominately Catholic France. Ah religion....don't get me started or I will never stop. (especially after I've had a bit to drink) They were told to either convert to Catholicism or leave the country. They fled to Britain (can't blame them) and were actually the first known refugees to Britain in the 17th and early 18th century.
There are all sorts of markets on (and slightly off) Brick Lane. You can buy somebody's old tat sorry....used items or lovely handmade items at the Upmarket or nearby Spitalfields market.
I always order a variety - chicken, lamb, pork veggie, prawn....they are all YUM!!! (and they kindly threw in an extra!)
I should be more adventurous but I always go for the momos - there are loads of food vendors in this building and it all looks wonderful! That's it... I guess I need to go to Brick Lane every Sunday I am in London and get out of my "momo rut".
This parade marched through the East end ending up at Weavers Fields. This culminates in the largest Asian festival in Europe. Boishakhi Mela is a Bengali festival celebrating the Bangladesh New Year and the parade represents the rivers of Bangladesh. It was truly a special event to witness.
I always have to pop in here and have a snoop.
Besides the food in the hall where I got the momos there are loads of kiosks along the northern end of Brick Lane. I've only ever tried the masala chai (spicy tea) as my belly is always too full from momos. I really must come here more than once on a trip!!! The variety of food is amazing.
I always have to pay my respects to this goat that stands alongside the Spitalfields market building. It is called "I Goat" and is a memorial to the many immigrants (including the Huguenots I mentioned earlier) and their persecution and sacrifice. Also it might be a nod to the 17th century when Spitalfields market traded in all sorts - probably including goats.
There was a water play area that was a hit with kiddies of all ages.
There was also a free movie - I can't remember what it was but it didn't tempt me. I assume this was a weekend-only thing but I could be wrong. (And look at all those people - sitting way too close aren't they??? It is going to seem so strange when we can all sit together again.)
and pay my respects to the proprietor!!!
On this particular Sunday (June 30th) with my tummy happy (for now...I don't try to eat too much before a trip to Brick Lane so definitely not more than four that morning!) I set off via train and tube to Brick Lane. Sunday is market day on Brick Lane which is in the east end of London. After climbing the steps out of the Aldgate East tube station I headed half a block to Brick Lane and walked down - noting that there was security around. Hmmm...what was that about. In the meantime I started taking photos of the street art Brick Lane which the East End is noted for (besides Jack the Ripper and the Kray Brothers that is!).
After an hour or so of wandering Brick Lane, it was time for my traditional momo lunch - momos are delicious dumplings that originate in Tibet. Kind of like perogies with spicy innards. They are heaven - pure heaven!!
I always go to the same vendors - a family that came over from Tibet to settle in London.
Belly really full now, I staggered out and back onto the street. I heard music and then to my startled eyes - a parade!!! I literally BUMPED into it! What beautiful colour and music! Such a privilege to be able to see this.
I then wandered down a side street over to Bishopgate and the Spitalfields market. This is a wonderful market that sells beautiful handcrafted items - and they also have food stalls although nothing like Brick Lane. I came away empty-handed from both markets except for a bamboo toothbrush! The purpose of this visit was to buy gifts for family and friends and I failed miserably. I am not really a shopper so I have to be in the right mood.
I think they were going to telecast sports - probably Wimbledon. Sports..meh....I parked my butt on a nearby bench to rest and I even resisted the Pimms!!
Sadly I had to head in the direction of "no roast" - that belly full of momos would definitely have rebelled!!!
I headed over to Liverpool Street Station as I wasn't entirely sure what I would get up to next. I sat in the lobby and thought about where to go next...I had a friend join me...
This poor guy was missing a foot! I felt so badly that 1) I had no food to share with him and 2) I couldn't take him home with me as my pet to protect and care for (don't think Claudia would have liked that in her guest house!!!) Then I remembered the cooing.....I had pigeons living on my balcony once or twice. Not fun. But I do like their attitude - they don't take sh*t from anyone. I left the station feeling very sad....though maybe that pigeon is on to a great gig living in Liverpool St station with all those WH Smith sandwich crumbs around and playing up to soppy animal lovers like me. (not a shortage of those in Britain!)
I got on the bus to Kings Cross station and followed the crowd to Coal Drops Yard which is a new shopping and entertainment area just behind the station. What used to be a hang out for drug addicts/dealers and other people you don't want to meet on a dark night is now being rejuvenated. My friend Loraine had told me about this place so I knew I had to go. Honestly, anyone who gets bored in London needs their head examined - or they are just plain boring themselves!!!! You should see my list for the next time I am over (please...please...don't let it be too long!!).
What the heck is Coal Drops Yard you might ask? This was the site of two huge coal sheds that were used to receive coal from South Yorkshire and send it onto the adjacent Regents Canal on canal boats (pulled by horses on the canal paths in earlier days) or onto carts to be dispursed around London. Coal was used to heat and light the buildings and homes of London and eight million tons a year came through these sheds. Some coal was also converted to coal gas in the round gasworks structure below. As there are a few of these abandoned lonely structures around London it was so cool to see that condo units have been built inside this structure.
There were quite a few shops but they were all too high scale for me.
Of course I had to pop in here...
I had a browse but nothing took my fancy. I certainly would have been a cheap date today!!!
I decided to go back through the tunnel to Kings Cross which was lit in a rainbow for Pride month. (and nice and cool which was relief on this hot day)
Then back to Streatham tired and happy - what a great day!!!
I highly recommend visiting the East End markets on a Sunday. The markets generally don't start until 10 a.m. If you want to see the street art I recommend going to the Aldgate East tube station and turn left out of the station for half a block and turn left at the first street - that is Brick Lane. It starts out fairly ordinary with a high number of Indian restaurants but as you walk further along the street art begins and then the markets.
Coal Drops yard is behind Kings Cross Rail tube/rail station and the train is well marked (or follow the herd if it's the weekend)
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