My day in the stables

Monday I decided to check out Camden town in London. I was expecting something similar to what I'd seen on Brick Lane the day before but was pleasantly surprised. I took the bus to Victoria station where I headed to information to find out how to get there. The woman on Sunday had been so helpful....today's, not so much. Luckily a guy behind me was able to point me in the right direction. He told me how to get there but also said I could walk from the Caledonian Road Tube station and that it was really pretty.....and it was. I enjoyed the enture hour of walking! Haha I finally came across Camden Town and there wasn't much to see but I saw the throngs of people thickening so I headed in that direction. I was met with cute shops of artistic and musical items, peircing and tattoo shops, fruit and veggie stands, and so much more. After a short block I came across a bridge over the locks (Camden Locks Market was on the other side). I wandered through, being harrassed by the food vendors to try their food for free! Ok! I hadn't eaten yet as I had learned from the day before to shop around, so I did. After wandering through cute shops and seeing the famous fish pedicures (yuk!), I went back to the chinese stand where the man with the raspy voice offered me Bam Bam Chicken! It was delicious! I sat on a motorbike stool overlooking the water. Small birds flew in and perched on the ledge waiting for scraps.....so wonderful. I crossed Camden road to the other side figuring I would find the same t shirt, purse, amd jewellery shops as before. I was awe struck to find Camden Stable Market. Old stables built under the railway were converted into shops. Turkish shops, Goth shops, shops of wollen items, baby clothes and so much more. The architecture and designs were beautiful, never mind the amazing goods in the shops. One lady painted all star shoes with the most amazing pictures, next to that was a store selling Turkish wall hangings and scarves. The story is that the area used to be a big hub for goods coming and going. The railway and the boats using the locks could trade goods. Back then they also used horses to pull goods that floated on barges in the river. Many horses were needed and as the area expanded the stables were moved underground where there was more space....I think they may have used catacombs to build in. There were huge bronze horse statues everywhere. I plan on taking my dad back to see it.

After several hours of perusing the shops I caught the bus to head back to Victoria station. As we passed Leicester Square I thought it looked really neat so I got off to wander some more. At this point it was dusk and the lights shone as brightly as times square.....because I had wandered into Picadilly Circus. I had been here before over 15 years ago and I don't remember it looking anything like this! It was amazing! I wandered a little, found designer shops, went into M & M world and then decided to head back. I took one more stop off the bus for dinner and then went back to the hostel to chill in their bar. I booked my trips after my dad and I finish our Scotland/London tour, Bath/Stonehenge and then York. After that I will go south I think in France.... My overnight bus trip was thankfully uneventful and I arrived safely in Scotland.  I am now patiently awaiting the arrival of my dad in the hotel lobby in Glasgow!