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?

33 comments:

  1. 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

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

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

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

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  3. 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

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

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

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

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  5. 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!!

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

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

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    1. 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?

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

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    1. 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?

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  8. 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

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    1. Hi Jim,

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

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  9. 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:)

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    1. 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.

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

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  11. 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

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    1. 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.

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

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

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  14. 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.

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

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  15. 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!

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

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

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