Monday, September 20, 2010

1: Where we live

We live in Camden Town, in London's Northwest area code, but generally considered part of Central London.  Fortunately, where we live is actually a few blocks south of the Camden Town you mostly see in pictures - the Camden of the bustling markets, canal locks and willow trees, punk attire and raucous nightlife.  Not that it would be a bad thing to live in the heart of that madness, but we're a bit closer to the center of London and while we can walk to Camden Town proper, we get to enjoy somewhere slightly quieter.

Not that where we live is a peaceful little suburban flat or anything... we have a pub across the street and a live-music venue a few doors down (which provides great entertainment even from the sidewalk - one night it will be a glaring delegation of sulky punks, another night too-cool-for-school scene kids, and then some unassuming indie fans.  We never know what sorts of looks we'll get from the sidewalk!).  A bit farther away, there's another music venue - where JANELLE MONAE played shortly before we arrived, my goodness!  if only we'd had better timing!

Besides the access to music, our location is pretty great - it was the clincher when we were deciding between flats.  The library is literally right next door to our row of flats, and the tube stop only seconds away.   Better yet, we're just off of the Camden High Street - High Road is British-talk for Main Street, I hear - and can walk to a wonderful, wonderful range of stores.  Food, of course - two big grocery stores, a Thai market, several street greengrocers, a few discount shops - but also tools, lighting and electronics (which it doesn't SEEM like we'd need, but British light bulbs threw us for a loop), about six thrift shops, pharmacies, hair salons, a gazillion pubs, cafes and restaurants, and even more music venues.  It's a cute little street, with a big random statue in the middle of it and all.

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