I’m my point of view, birthdays should be celebrated for multiple days. Hence our weekend continued with the official birthday present opening ceremony. Shades of grey clothing and accessories are only fitting for fall days in London. 

First stop for the day was Columbia Road Flower Market located on the East side of the city. It was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Yes, the crowd was horrendous, but I would say it was well worth giving up my personal bubble for the beauty this market holds. Visitors can find everything from potted plants to freshly cut flowers, succulents and blossoming cactuses, shrubs and bulbs. In addition, the shops of neighbouring streets offer gardening supplies, home decor and antiques. I would say that this has become my most loved London market for all it has to offer in colour and scent. 

While in search of an ATM, we stumbled upon the Brick Lane Market, where we were greeted by a more rugged atmosphere. As we inspected the street ahead, we noticed crowds of people eating delicious looking filled bagels. We were soon pointed towards a massive line up at Brick Lane Bakery. It is a  24 hour bakery known for traditional Jewish-style filled bagels such as salt beef and smoked salmon. Naturally we opted to try one of each. They were simply divine! Laci has concluded this is his favourite food shop in the city! 

As for a snack, we tried Dark Sugars. Their delicious sample and eye-catching displays of truffles were hard to resist. Definitely a sweet little luxury for anyone who loves quality chocolate with no added preservatives. 

The street soon transforms into the Truman Market located in the historic 11 acre Old Truman Brewery. The area is home to an eclectic mix of independent businesses and retail outlets. I would say that anything can be found in this market. Out of all the offeings the birthday boy decided to try the Meat Porn food truck, where they were offering spicy pulled pork burgers and seasoned fries. We shared it, but it was enough to fill us up for the rest of the afternoon. We continued exploring the ara by discovering a number of vintage stores and street art in this creative hub. 

While we thought our day was coming to an end, it really was just beginning as we stumbled upon the Drink Up London event, the cocktail series at Spitafields Market. While this is a week long event, we arrived during the last few hours. None the less, we enjoyed free samples of baileys and gin, and tried hand crafted cocktails at a reduced price. My piña colada was just perfect! 

Making our way towards a special exhibit, we walked along the primary financial distric of London. We admired the shapes of the skyscrapers, especially that of the Gherkin. The building has become an iconic symbol of London and is one of the city’s most widely recognised examples of contemporary architecture. 

Tired and exhausted, but we made way to the unconventional exhibit of Louis Vuitton: Series 3. A modern reinterpretation, it showcases the past, present and future. While the exhibit is groundbreaking and very visual, we were also introduced to the process and people behind the luxury brand. The second floor featured tables where French artisans were creating some of the label’s most famous pieces in real-time. Thirty hours for a small LV clutch!

We arrived home late, but experienced one of our most colourful and eventful days in the city to date.