portobello

Now I had great intentions of making it out to Portobello AND Camden Town to tour the secondhand bookstores, but hey, who am I kidding right? 4 hours, one foot cramp, 148 photos and about 4 kilos of books later I emerged hot and flustered from the Portobello road markets, ready to drop.

I really do have a soft spot for the UK, slowly developed over many short visits. My first impression of London is quite possibly the most entertaining first impression I’ve ever had of a city. As I wearily emerged from out of the underground system somewhere in Hammersmith the first thing I clap my eyes on is a woman sitting spread-legged on the footpath, torn stockings, crazy hair, talking loudly and obviously into a mobile phone. The message scrawled on a ripped off piece of cardboard in front of her reads ‘I am a psychopath’. Welcome to London (though on later reflection, it was probably a 3 non-blondes comedy sketch).

I’ve found Londoners to be, on the whole, excessively polite people. With the exception of club bouncers and bus drivers. Willing to go well and truly out of their way so that you should not be put out. But then, that’s just my experience. And seeing as my experiences in London thus far include door to door Scottish fishmongers, it might be exceptional. Or not.