Camden Market
Last night I went out and explored some of the local culture on my own (nothing exciting yet, but details may be forthcoming in the future). I called it an early night though, partly because I hadn't had a lot to eat and the beer, while good, was getting to me, and I didn't feel like spending an inordinate amount on alcohol. Generally, going out here is expensive (though groceries are about the same as DC even with the exchange rate) but alcohol at bars and clubs is out of this world. A pint typically costs anywhere from £2.50 to £3.50 and mixed drinks run from £3 to £7. Double the numbers and you get the US price. Yeah, this means I'm drinking beer. Though actually the beers here are SIGNIFICANTLY better than those in the US, so I'm not exactly complaining.
Anyway, today we went to Camden Market. At first it didn't seem that impressive because we were in some of the smaller clothes/jewelry areas, but then we started getting into the more interesting shops. Clothes, art, books, antiques, all kinds of things, and lots of food stalls once you started getting back in. We left only having explored half of it in-depth, so I'm definitely going back. In the antiques area I found a place selling old prints and maps. They had original British laws (the copies made for distribution to the public) dating from the 1700s for £5. Perfectly preserved, no water stains etc. You'd never see anything like this in the US.
Oh, and finally, another thing you'd never see in the US- about every fifty feet was a shop selling "Magic Mushrooms". Yup. Mushrooms, various herbal things supposed to get you high, and some kind of speed pills. I'm not going to try any of them, of course, but that was an eye-opener. Strange that they aren't regulated when so much else here is.
Anyway, today we went to Camden Market. At first it didn't seem that impressive because we were in some of the smaller clothes/jewelry areas, but then we started getting into the more interesting shops. Clothes, art, books, antiques, all kinds of things, and lots of food stalls once you started getting back in. We left only having explored half of it in-depth, so I'm definitely going back. In the antiques area I found a place selling old prints and maps. They had original British laws (the copies made for distribution to the public) dating from the 1700s for £5. Perfectly preserved, no water stains etc. You'd never see anything like this in the US.
Oh, and finally, another thing you'd never see in the US- about every fifty feet was a shop selling "Magic Mushrooms". Yup. Mushrooms, various herbal things supposed to get you high, and some kind of speed pills. I'm not going to try any of them, of course, but that was an eye-opener. Strange that they aren't regulated when so much else here is.