“Don’t just drink coffee – buy something!”

Today was Valentine’s Day, and while I refuse to feel bad about being single on this random day in particular, I felt it was a good a day as any to take myself on a date. My new camera arrived this week, and I still have no clue how to use it, but I took it with me to explore Shoreditch, especially Brick Lane and Columbia Road Market.

I’d never been there before, not to look around at least, and … it’s certainly an interesting place. Shoreditch has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country, and when I walked into a corner shop on Brick Lane to buy water, my eyes fell on magazine shelves that held nothing cheaper than £6. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a corner shop that stocked LOVE magazine at all.

Columbia Road Flower Market is my idea of hell, but was made better by the traders there – the title for this blog post came from a man trying to sell a house plant. At the end of my walk I sat down in Ziferblat, where you pay for the time you spend there rather than the food and drink you consume. It’s a nice little place with a good atmosphere, and a fun idea.

I’m not sure I’ll be coming back very often, but it was an interesting day, with a lot to see and a lot to photograph. Also, pancakes.