Tuesday, August 19, 2014

London flower market

I slipped off for a long weekend in London.
The Columbia Road Flower Market stole my heart.

A narrow charming street in London's East End
packed with flowers.



The call of "Two for a fiver" and "Three for a tenner"
echoing down the street

                                                        like a choir in a cathedral of flowers.
I agonized over what to buy, to brighten my hotel room,
and settled on purple stock, yellow freesias, and thistles.
Three for a tenner.

Great people watching too.
The sight of all those flowers made me giddy, 
but watching the interactions, choices, conversations,
listening to the wonderful range of accents
made it that much better.

 One day I'd like to tour England's gardens, flowers shop and markets.

Is it surprising that in a city of great historic sights and museums
one of my favorite things is the flower market?
What sorts of thing light you up when you travel?

Posted by at
Labels: , ,

33 comments:

  1. ShelleyAugust 19, 2014 at 7:08 AM

    Go to the Tate?

    ReplyDelete
  2. flwrjaneAugust 19, 2014 at 10:54 AM

    I'm sorry, I was so jealous, for just one minute, I was unable to comment.

    Head screwed on straight now.

    Beautiful. What fun. Lucky woman. Thanks for sharing with us.

    xoxo J

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 19, 2014 at 4:19 PM

      Oh, Jane. Wish you were here. You would have such fun.

      Delete
  3. rachelAugust 19, 2014 at 11:38 AM

    Vegetable stalls! So glad you got to Columbia Road - such a treat, especially near closing time, when plants are almost given away....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 19, 2014 at 4:21 PM

      I also went to the Borough Market which was wonderful. Wish I had time to visit all the markets.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousAugust 19, 2014 at 4:27 PM

    Botanic Gardens and art museums, riverfront promenades. Have you been out to Henry Moore's "place" in Hertfordshire, ever?
    Also, fabulous bridges & views and cathedrals.
    Enviously yours,
    Diane in
    Farmers Market Denver

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 20, 2014 at 3:31 AM

      Diane--I've never been to Hertfordshire. I'm sure I would love the English countryside and coasts. Maybe one day…

      Delete
  5. AmeliaAugust 19, 2014 at 5:55 PM

    Gorgeous! What beautiful flowers, the prices are knocking me over though, Ouch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 20, 2014 at 3:34 AM

      I keep forgetting to translate to pounds from dollars. In dollars I thought the prices were good.

      Delete
  6. Susan ~ Southern FascinationsAugust 19, 2014 at 9:29 PM

    Lovely, awesome, fantastic...and a string of other equally descriptive adjectives! Definitely a wonderful place to visit! I'm joining Jane is being jealous...wish I could have written this in Green text to convey the appropriate envy! ;-)
    Safe travels!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 20, 2014 at 3:41 AM

      Susan--it's definitely a treat. Wish you and Jane were with me.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousAugust 19, 2014 at 11:43 PM

    you did it!!!! I'm so glad you liked it :) xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 20, 2014 at 3:39 AM

      Petra--my other two favorite parts of the trips are the walk along the Thames and Borough Market. Thanks so much for your recommendations.

      I think I need to visit and write about flower markets of the world. Surely somebody wants to publish such a book. You'll take the pictures?

      Delete
  8. leaves on the Raney TreeAugust 20, 2014 at 1:32 AM

    That's wonderful. Great photos. You aren't alone, are you? Travel is more fun when it's shared.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 20, 2014 at 3:43 AM

      Hi Karen--I'm with my husband--he had to be here on business for a few days. I decided to join him late in the game so we added on the weekend. I hid in his suitcase. Sadly, I haven't seen Outlander #2. Somehow my computer knows I am in the UK. If I'd known that would I have made the trip?

      Delete
  9. ParnassusAugust 20, 2014 at 2:31 AM

    Hello Jen, Count on you to make a beeline for these beautiful flowers. Were I to make this trip, I would probably head for the Bond Street galleries, and then make an all-out attack on various museums.
    --Jim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 20, 2014 at 3:45 AM

      Hi Jim,

      The weather has been so beautiful I've spent as much time as possible outside! A whole other side of the city.

      Delete
  10. cosmosAugust 20, 2014 at 9:42 AM

    A whole bunch of beautiful flowers! You can't just pass by. I feel the narrow street vibrant with life. A market is a good place to explore the life of the country you visit and if you are lucky, you can find a real bargain. Enjoy your flower quest, Jen:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 21, 2014 at 7:08 AM

      Hi Cosmos! Visiting local markets really is a wonderful way to get a feel for a new place. Vibrant is the perfect word for this flower market.

      Delete
  11. Bmore BungalowAugust 20, 2014 at 2:29 PM

    Thanks for posting. All your lovely flower pictures really perked me up.

    ReplyDelete
  12. helen tilstonAugust 20, 2014 at 4:54 PM

    Hello Jen

    I would seek out the flower market too. Vegetables markets also lure me when travelling and, one feels like a local, being in such places when abroad.

    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 21, 2014 at 7:10 AM

      Hi Helen--I agree, and being around locals helps me understand a new place better, and appreciate. As I was walking to the market it was fun to see people walking from the market with their bundles of flowers.

      Delete
  13. Dayle ~ A Collection of DaysAugust 21, 2014 at 11:04 PM

    I hope to make it there one of these years. What a lovely weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  14. ElaAugust 24, 2014 at 3:50 PM

    I love this place. I buy a lot of flowers and other plants to the garden !
    Great photos !
    Jen, have a happy week :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. cedarmerefarmAugust 28, 2014 at 10:02 PM

    Ahhh! I am so mad. I was in London a few summers ago and didn't even think to go to the flower market. I visited a few gardens, but I would have been so much happier being at the market. I love people watching too. It's the best way to learn about a country. I am glad you decided to go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 29, 2014 at 8:11 PM

      Christa--I will now look for flower markets wherever I go!

      Delete
  16. AliciaAugust 30, 2014 at 3:38 AM

    Oh! I am jelous! One of my best friends is english so I used to went to England when I was younger. She is from Littelhampton a small village near Brighton. When I was there we used to ride our bicycles around it. In London we stayed at a camping near Crystal Palace and we made a lot of walks and excursions. The markets were ok...but I used to spent all my money the first day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JenAugust 31, 2014 at 9:13 PM

      Alicia, when I was young I camped near Crystal Palace too!

      Delete
  17. Denise September 2, 2014 at 1:31 AM

    Good people watching, and gosh, such floral variety. I love visiting libraries when I travel.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)