A stroll around London's Covent Garden for #MarketFriday

Friday, 17th of March 2023 [53]

I know, I have been slacking the past couple of weeks. I’m either stressed and wiped out or sick and wiped out or just don’t feel like my mood is suitable for writing anything of value.

Today, however, is a beautiful Friday and later in the evening I will be heading for another London adventure. My mood is in excitement mode and I decided to capitalise on it and empty my phone of the pictures I have taken a few weeks back (25th of February) for this occassion - #MarketFriday for a lovely @dswigle and her thriving community.

Recently my friend and I decided to get off couple stops earlier to explore different parts of London. We got off at the Covent Gardens station and I was in shock that we were so far undergroud that we had to take a lift, as afyer taking 20 or so flies of stairs we would be too sweaty for our salsa party 😂

Luckily my friend knows her ways around London much better than I do. We looked in both sides and she confidently pointed towards the Museum, so that where we headed.

Big city life, hey? I could never live here, far aways from my forest and quiet streets for my evening walks. My city is also relatively big - almost 1 mln population - but I live on the surburbs, close enough and far away enough.

In big cities like London, I can find all kind of weird things to colour my articles with. Dinosaur even! Who knew?

Also people taking selfies in front of some probably famous shops. I was never too bothered about big brands. Maybe as I teenager I would read women’s magazines, making me wanna buy all the luxurious brands, as their star rating would be much higher and back then it felt they would enrich my life on some level.

These days when I can afford some of those big brands, I can admit that some things are worth paying more for.

While coming here for our salsa adventures is always exciting and getting lost in the crowd of people not caring what you look like, wear or bahave has some advantages, this amount of people on a daily basis would not fly for me.

It is a great place to visit every now and again though. I’m always amazed by the architecture of London. Amazing mixture of old and new.

Covent Garden is a posh place to be and shop around. The most famous brands all crammed in one square surrounded by posh buidings.

Chanel, hey? I do love a bit of chanel. Green ‘Chance’ is my favourite fragrance for women and Bleu for men. Can’s walk past a man wearing Bleu and not look back, admiring his great taste!

This place is full of pretty much everything. Including sitting places to enjoy whatever you purchased or just soaking in the atmosphere I guess.

Definitely full of people! I do wonder what it looks like late at night? Maybe one day we’ll find out, who knows?

I do love the colourful sitting places. They make the area look more lively.

Not that it needs more life, cause as I said - plenty of people around.

But hey, what kind of #GaiaLover would I be if I didn’t capture some flowers, even in the middle of busy city?

Despite still cold weather back in February (and even now!) there are always some flowers to find and capture.

The hanging baskets are decorated with some pretty plants with orange seeds amongst winter hardy pansies.

Let’s dive into the market though, cause that’s where I’m going with this post 😉 A handsome salesman doesn’t mind me taking the pictures. How funny would it be if one day someone commented on my post to say they recognise themselves on one of my pictures? Super cool!

And inside we go! Just like outside - the building looks pretty posh.

Some of those brands I don’t even know, but since each can afford the rent in this posh building, I’m guessing they’re all big players.

The only Morel I know is a mushroom! But I can’t see no mushrooms inside this boutique.

This brand however, even though I didn’t know the name of it until that day we visited it, I will for sure remember - Panhaligons!

I’m sure you can see why! It’s packed full of pretty things in pretty packages and smelling divine!

My friend instantly recognised the brand and insisted we go inside. I can’t thank her enough - that was quite an experience to see and smell all those amazing perfumes.

Of course, ‘Lilly of the valley’ drew my attention instantly. I absolutely adore the scent of those tiny, bell shape flowers and had to take a little sample of it with me, so my backpack can remind me of happy childhood memories.

I mean, look at all those carefully crafted bottles of perfumes! I didn’t even have to look at the prices to smell money.

Even the outside package is designed to draw you in and admire.

I absolutely love every single one of those bottles with animal heads. Just a pretty little thing that not only makes you smell amazingly, but also looks good on your bedside table or living room.

Although why is this one called Teddy and there is no head of a Teddybear attached to it, I really don’t understand.

I’ll let you adore them in silence, white I shut my mouth for a few seconds 😉

There are options for every expensive fragrance lover. Even those with smaller wallets, as you’re able to buy a smaller bottles as well as packages of little samples.

Some beautifully packed, ready to be gifted, while others more simple, yet classy nonetheless.

Ok, last capture and I’m leaving this divine little boutique.

Let’s look inside Happy Socks shop.

Ok, those socks do indeed look very happy. So many colours and famous faces to choose from!

I didn’t check the price tags though. I wanted to leave happy too 😉

We passed another perfume shop on our way. Not as busy as the first one though. I didn’t walk inside this one. I had enough of smells and beautiful pictures from thw first one. Maybe another time.

There was also Venchi. Not that I know the brand, but I’m guessing they sell some expensive ice cream.

At least the windows would indicate that with all those scones hanging around.

If not ice cream, you can also enjoy other types of sweetness in the shop right opposite of Venchi. They’re so amazingly crafted, that it would feel like I’m destroying the work of art if I ate this. Maybe another day. My day was already super sweet, as I was spending it with one of my most favourite people on the planet and we had some amazing party to attend.

We explored more… much more, but to cram it all into one post woukd make you guys feel like me that day - overloaded with experiences. Therefore I will leave the second part for another #MarketFriday.

To make it look like a closure though, have a look at the way out of this amazing place and have an amazing Friday and the weekend.

Until next time 💙

Camera:	iPhone11
Photographer:	@fantagira