Most people sleep in on Sundays, but not me and not the avid market go-ers down Columbia Road. I was ready to prove to Jason that Columbia Road's Flower Market was worth waking up a mere four hours following a forced sleep for (we had just touched down in London). And after booking an Uber using our apartment's wifi and then running across the landing, into the lift and down the steps of Nell Gwynn, I was ready to make it a weekend ritual. Oh, but to be able to live in London to do that.
I have written a brief description of the market and its conception, of which was posted after thinking of the morning I spent at the Borough Market and some ridiculous scotch eggs. Speaking of ridiculous, the colours that flooded Columbia Road were just that. The prices were too. With flowers being four pound for a bunch (before taking into account the AUD conversion) I was incredibly tempted to purchase a few to put in tall drinking glasses on the table next to the window in our apartment. If only prices for good quality, fresh and beautiful flowers were comparable here in Perth. $4 for a bunch of tulips that look like they would last a month? Yes please. Even after conversion, they still prove to be cheap.
The atmosphere itself is fantastic to experience. Walking up and down the road I picked up tips on how to provide flower day-care, advice on pruning and caught the ends of chatter. Flowers are not the only thing sold in abundance, so too were vegetables and herbs. But of course I was preoccupied with the florals as the species, colours and sizes couldn't be ignored. Dogs accompanied owners in the rain and people darted in and out of cafes at the end of the road while sellers yelled out cheerful greetings. It was a recipe for a perfect Sunday and I highly recommend visiting when in London's east.
Safe to say I proved my case to Jason. Even he was impressed and he never so much as bats an eyelid at the mention of flowers.