Look at me strolling through London, 2 years after I had left Romania and moved here to start over. No matter the crazy changing weather, the mix of food and people, the controversial night life – all are now part of the city I call my home. And so, I am not going to write about the touristic London that you all have heard or visited but instead I am going to invite you to take a walk with me in one of London’s neighborhoods, unique, full of flavor and unknown to the large public.
If you really want to discover a different side of London go to Shoreditch. Put on some comfortable shoes, make sure you have cash on you – cause the cash machines in the area charge a withdraw fee – and get off at Aldgate East. Go right, leaving behind all those huge buildings and enter the old part of the city. It is full with Indian Restaurant, all of them promising to offer an unique experience. Also on those streets you will find a local shop, with rice sold in huge bags and fruits and vegetable you don’t even know they exist. I am always stopping here for a little shopping. The fruits smell incredible and taste even better. On exit, you might also run into small, crowded bakeries. Try them. They sell bagels and all kind of pastry products, cheap and tasty. It is also a must to go in or at least stare at the window of the chocolate shops you will find on the way. Further down the street, keep on strolling; you will end up at the food stalls: my favorite part of this neighborhood. There is here a pretty amazing variety of colors and flavors. I personally tried here, for the first time in my life, pickled ginger, which I loved. Be aware that on weekends the place is full and you may find people sitting on the streets, on the ground and eating. This is a clear proof that the taste of the cooked products is amazing. If you are not that into food, then Shoreditch has also antique shops, vintage shops and boutiques to spend time in. The second hand leather products and the vintage items you find here are unique and cheaper than anywhere else in London.
The most amazing part of this area remains the street art. Everywhere around you can see graffiti works on the walls. Sometimes you meet groups of people and hear the guide telling interesting stories about the street art and the history of this place. It happened to me that passing by I heard that the building in front of me, which looked similar to the rest, today is a Mosque, while in the past the same place has hosted a Synagogue and even a Christian Church at some point. Also in Shoreditch since there is not enough unpainted space, after a while a new graffiti appears and the old one disappears. So do not be surprised if passing by the second time in this area, the paintings and drawings have changed. To prove it, well I think images speak louder than words:
My advice: look at this place and see beyond the garbage around it. Meet the people, taste their food. See a glimpse of London, changed by immigrants, that has escaped the modernizations today. Do not be the regular tourist and miss out on all the great things London has to offer. Take time, search for them and enjoy your visit here.
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