Mer above the clouds: DAY 22: Shopping Day (from Covent Garden to Bond Street)

Enjoying Covent Garden

I started my day in Covent Garden. What a great place to shop!

Full of cool people and little original shops.

Next to the Seven Dials, I bought some beatiful brouches in Magma (8 Earlham St), though I could have bought everything in that store. And in Orion (17 Monmouth St) I found a perfect dress on sale.

Magma (7 Earlham Street, Covent Garden)

Orion (17 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden)

Continued walking to Neal´s Yard, the most cheery "patio" full of little restaurants and funny shops.

A couple of newlyweds being photograph for their wedding album was wondering around.

Neal´s Yard, Covent Garden

Message on Neal´s Yard´s wall

Thomas Neal´s

Then Thomas Neal´s, a little shopping centre, with some interesting boutiques. I really enjoyed the lamps and the building itself, very original.

I continued walking and seeing different stores. And when I reached Urban Outfitters (one of my favourite shops in this entire world), I found a great band, just playing in the street: the Ryan O´Reilly Band". Great sound, cool tunes. I just got to buy their latest EP "Emily". By the time I got home, I regreted not buying the other CD. They´re just great!One of my favourite new bands now. (http://www.myspace.com/ryanoreilly)

The Ryan O´Reilly Band busking in Covent Garden

James Street was so crowded! But somehow, it´s this crow what makes this place so curious. Walking along James St, I reached the Piazza and Central Market. One side of the Piazza was on restoration work (Big surprise!). The Royal Opera House building was watching over the Market.
I love this spot of the city. I like to stand up in the arcade and imaging the piazza as if I were Eliza Doolittle, selling flowers.
And in the market (with a great restored building) you can get from special Teas, to souvenirs.

James Street, Covent Garden

Vintage store

Central Market

Love is in the air 1

Restoring work

Floral Hall, Royal Opera House

Love is in the air 2

I continued my trip to Chinatown and Leicester Sq. walking down streets full of theaters, and restaurants.
Great atmosphere!

Down to Chinatown

Its a very well-known fact that Chinese people is present in every spot of this world, but specially in big cities. It´s not as famous as NY´s Chinatown, but I found it adorned with hundreds of Chinese lamps, due to the Chinese New year´s celebration, and it looked beatiful. I´m not a big fan of Chinese food, but if you like it, you´ll love its restaurants and grocery shops.

Leicester Square

Imagine I want to see Jude Law in one of his movie premiers, how could I see him if the hole square is on construction works? Imposible!

The M&M´s store full of tourists shopping like there was no tomorrow. By this time, I was already very tired, and a little overwhelmed by the crow, that I had to leave the store inmediately.

Picadilly Circus

Picadilly Circus is never dissapointing. Always full of people, cars and buses. The perfect tourist´s spot.

Continued on Picadilly St to see the posh Burlington Arcade (very expensive and posh clothes, hats, shoes, jewelry and more) with smart doormen watching the entrance.

Fortum and Mason´s..., oh my God!, I mean, I loved it!
OK, it could be a little to chic for me, but specially the Grounf floor where you can buy different kinds of Tea, coffee, cookies and other delicatessen is great. And the store windows are so well-done, that I could stare at them for hours discovering new details.

Picadilly Circus

Fortum and Mason´s

Burlington Arcade

Store window at Fortum and Mason

St Valentine´s by Fortum and Mason

Let´s go to Carnaby Street

On my way to Carnaby St, I bumped into Kingly Court, a fancy little shopping centre full of vintage boutiques. And then Carnaby St, I have to say, I prefer the shops at Covent Garden.

Vintage Hairdresser at Kingly Court

Shops at Kingly Court

Continued to Liberty´s, again, great store windows, really original!

I also visited Oxford St and Selfridges. And then, Bond Street.

It was a wonderful day.

Window shopping in Oxford and Bond Street

One of the reasons I enjoy travelling, it´s the window shopping. And London offers a big oportunity to walk and visit shops without the need of shopping to have fun. In general, every Departamental Store has great decorated windows. But, if you walk the streets you´ll find some little shops with a wonderful "window art" to enjoy.
Here, some examples.