Spitalfields in a covered marketing in central London. Found at: 16 Commercial St, Spitalfields, London E1 6EW. It has been on the same spot for 350 years – impressive right. Who knows when it will re open but wanted to make sure this travel tuesday it was on your radar.
With a whole range of stalls – it is worth going for a walk around even if you are not looking for anything. I found some lovely unique earrings which were like branches. So there are a whole range of different local businesses and local vendors – there are some chain shops in the permanent fixtures around the outside of the market – but that is not why we come to markets right!
There are two reasons I come to Spitalfields – the food and the books. The food is amazing. I could spend all day there eating sweet treats and lunches from all over the world. There is a whole section of the market kept just for the food stalls with old school benches and table to sit at and enjoy your food. There is a whole range of options, from asian, italian, middle eastern through to some of the more ‘traditional’ options. The sweet treats are a must… just be careful with how many to try and get home – they might now survive.
As I said the other reason I go to Spitalfields is the book stall – I love this book stall! There are the traditional reads to some different ones and all at affordbale prices. Around £3-4 a book – always end up buying a few. The choice is endless as you can see from the image above, there are a range of topics and it stretches across all of the stall, there are shelves behind and the owner is just sat on a stall on the outskirts of the stall. Generally they prefer to take cash (this might change) however it is a great place to pick up a new read or something you have always wanted to try.
Workshop Wednesday! I don’t know about you, but during these time, I have been trying to come up with other hobbies that I could get into that would mean I would have more to do during this pandemic. This is a throwback to a workshop i did a while ago. I want to share with you guys.
In Winchester there is an opportunity to do a ring making workshop – a lovely girl named Marion runs them – she is a jewellery maker by trade. Check out her stuff on instagram: Marionlebouteillerjewellery
Upon arrival, we were given tea, of course, a shown how to use some of the mysterious tools that were on the bench in front of us. You could use hammers and etchers and all sort to see what effects you liked and what you would like to put on our ring during the process. Obviously doing it on copper to test first, but be aware how it turns out on copper is not always how it turns out on the ring – warning.
You have to admit some of the effects are really cool – you want to put all of them on the ring. but best to chose a top 3 – I did more than that and although I am pleased with the result in hindsight less is more.
Once we have had a test, and a drawing of what we would like, we were given a strip of metal to make our ring out of. Careful to not put our ‘patterns’ to the end of the metal as to not impact the joining of the two ends, we set about imprinting our mark.
Once completed, we were trusted to heat up the strip to make it into a ring – usually this is not something that is done by the individuals. It can get quite technical and if children are involved not always the safest.
I was so pleased to have Marion there, as having the advice to make slightly more complex designs and understanding each step of the process was incredible. She really helped us, especially when it came to the acid, and then the buffering it all out. Even helping us to edit the rings when they came out a bit small. With only two of us there it meant we had her undivided attention, and all of the time to be able to make exactly what we wanted.
Okay so the end result is nothing to sell in a shop – but it was a really fun workshop . The value for money was great. I think it was £50 for the day, and you get to play with the tools and create something you actually would want to wear. It was a great time to spend with my mum, a great rainy day activity. I tell you what, I have a greater appreciation for jewellery makers now!
Gallery of Images taken from Apratheid Museum in Johannesburg.
It is Travel Tuesday. During this time, where we are not allowed out of our homes let alone the country, I want to take this opportunity to share some of my jaunts around the world.
Now you wouldn’t think that it could ever be normal to arrive at a museum, be given a ticket telling you which side of the fight you were on, and then be given a different entrance depending on that ticket.
At the apartheid museum in Johannesburg this is exactly what happens. As you can see from the gallery above.
This museum takes you through life during the apartheid both sides of the story, no holes barred, the full gruesome history that it is. The highs and the lows. Upon entering you walk through an outside area with glass boards (for want of a better word ) With people so you are walking with them up to a view over Johannesburg and the surrounding area. Each of these people have a story that connects them to the fight, whether it be family members for themselves. George Bizos is one of them, a Greek immigrant, who joined Mandela’s legal battle in his fight for freedom.
Inside the museum you walk through the history of the oppression and the apartheid, with interactive galleries available as well as boards and images. Some images have been created such a so many hangmans noose hanging from the ceiling to signify the people who died for the cause. Videos from different massacres all over the country.
The museum itself it quite quiet other than the hub bub of the usual noise of people passing through. There are headphones to hear different testimonies, and in the galleries with videos, the video is hushed.
I do not want to ruin all of the museum for you but I am not going to lie to you, it is a heart wrenching museum, I spent 2.5 hours there looking through. I could not take in even half of the information before I had to leave, and yet I still cam out having learnt so much and yet feeling as through I have not scratched the surface of this great topic.
I would seriously recommend this museum to everyone who visits Johannesburg, it is on the Hop On Hop Off bus route so easy to get there and back from the city. There is a shop and a lovely cafe at the end of it, with outdoor seating if the weather is good. You can even tag it on with a visit to Soweto to see Mandela house and there are plenty of other museums to help you understand this era of history throughout the city.
This post seemed to post without the images loaded properly so I wanted to re post with some more information.
Whilst in Johannesburg last year I took a tour of Soweto. And what a day it was.
If you want to go the same tour please contact TKD Tours – TK works with local schools and international communities to help get school children from local villages the uniforms they need to go to school. He is very knowledgeable about the area as he grew up here and is willing to share all of his stories – not to mention he gave a tour of Kliptown to Prince Charles and Camilla.
Moving on, so TK took me for lunch in Soweto at Sakhumsi which is a traditional african buffet type places. I was able to try all sorts of food, and have a local beer as well. It was just down the road from where Nelson Mandela lived and therefore easy for tourists passing through. It does get quite busy there but they turn the food over quickly so you know you are getting fresh food.
TK drove me all round Soweto showing me every corner I could ever want to see and more. He is a really lovely guy and I would recommend him to anyone and everyone. After walking round the main parts he took me for a walk around Kliptown.
Kliptown is a township within Soweto – it really showed me the “how the other half live”. I was really impressed with their resourcefulness, the kids seemed happy and were playing around in the streets. The houses were simple but the people were welcoming – although I have to say some of the children seemed confused seeing a white lady around – but always interesting interactions. TK helped to translate between me and the children and prompted their interactions. It was such a rewarding experience.
If you are in Cape Town or Johannesburg I really would recommend going to one of the townships to see how they live, interact with local people. It makes such a difference to a trip. I truly enjoyed it and found it really rewarding – talk to your tour operator about township tours.
On the outskirts of the Cape Town this up and coming distillery is a lovely one if you are looking for that something different off the beaten track…Also if you like gin – which I do.
These are the choices of gin – all slightly different but all delicious.
Hope Distillery has a range of tastings available – there are nipples to go alongside too even! It is a lovely open floor – it looks a little odd from the outside and the area is a industrial place so no many people around on the weekends. But it is safe and there is a distillery upstairs.
The shop here, you can buy all sorts from bottles of gin, of varying sizes, even socks and all the extra thigns you might need for your own gin evening.
Its nice as it is so clean and open, there is space to walk around and see the product process in part. You can not go down to this section, naturally and when I went there wasn’t any information available to explain the process but the staff there are very knowledgable about it all.
As you can see everything is served together on a wooden board, and you are taken through step by step. This is not a guided tasting but once you finish one, they clear it, giving you another glass, garnish and mixer.
I can say which was my favourite but it was a lovely afternoon none the less – my usual go to is a dry gin with bitter lemon. I love the smell of the botanicals – always makes me think I am drinking something more sophisticated.
Hope distillery is shown in a few boutique places around Cape Town and at the Old Biscuit Mill market too – so please enjoy safely – best to get an uber there and back 🙂
Wine flies is the tour company that do Wine tours around Stellenbosch. If you are in Cape Town and are looking for a wine tour then these are your guys! Legend was our guide, yes that is really his name. He was wonderful.
They pick you up at the hostel/hotel you are staying at in the morning and drive you to the first winery, Villiera. Here we do a brief history of wine and see the moving parts behind a wine farm, the full story from start to finish. The entire process for white and red wine. Legend gave it in such a relaxed way, made sure we are listening and taking it in. Even through we were definitely all waiting for the wine.
The tasting consists of 2 Sparkling, 3 white wines and 1 red, there was biltong and kudu sausage to eat as well. The wines were enjoyable and good to start the day with. We had a chenin blanc from a steel barrel and one from and oak barrel – the different was outstanding! The winery was nice and big, so we could sit out side and relax in the shade.
There was not too much pressure but we have time constraints as we needed to move onto the next place. This was definitely one of your more boutiquey wine farms. Cheese Pairing at Mitres Edge. 1 white and 4 reds. The pairings here were really surprising, a cows milk feta with white wine. Blue camembert with a red. For someone who doesn’t normally enjoy red wine, this was my most surprising tasting of the day. The tasting room was in the cellar which was lovely, it was a family wine place as well making it all the more special to have the wine maker with us to explain every element of the wine.
Lunch and the third stop was Middlevlei, lunch was a Braai which was lovely. Sausages and chicken which a whole range of salads and sides. It was delicious and I enjoyed the wine so much I bought two bottles of it. It was a chilled lunch, Legend making sure that our glasses were topped up with different wines every time they were empty.
After lunch we headed into the cellar, which was actually a separate building. We saw the old concrete barrels they used to keep the wine in. And we went into one of the barrel rooms where we could take wine out of the barrel itself! It was great. The wine they had deemed was not quite good enjoy to be sold and so needed longer in the barrel. The guide explained putting fake oak sticks and logs into the barrels when the barrels were older in order to increase the oakiness in the barrels.
By now we are well plied with wine, but still enjoying ourselves, nothing too rowdy. We head to Lovane – this is the only place you can buy their wine, they do not sell in anywhere else. This is where we had the wine and chocolate pairing – again something I didn’t quite understand to begin with. Mostly red wines and even a port style wine was well! Some of the chocolates were well paired others were more debatable. It was interesting to understand their process and the story behind their wines. This was a boutique little place. Such a lovely stop on this tour, beautiful images to be taken with the mountains in the background.
Heading to our next stop we had a quiz to see how much we had learnt. Luckily I was in the front so I didn’t get involved, just laughing at the answers and being the DJ – naturally. The two teams tied so we all shared a small bottle of wine for the whole bus.
Our 5th stop was Vergenoegt, home of the runner duck wine. They actually have a duck parade here three times a day to teach the ducks to walk together. They use them during the growing season to keep the bugs away from the grapes- reduces the use of pesticides. The geese walk amongst them to keep them in line and stop other animals or vermin getting into the group.
The wines – lets move on – the wines where we had a white, rose and a few reds. I enjoyed the wines, but the rose and red were not quite to my taste. I preferred previous ones. I did however buy a bottle of the white wine to share with my family.
We did visit one final winery Peter Falke, this was extra and so we had to pay for it. It was R65 for 8 wines, only one or two white. By this point we had had so much wine. We were happy just chilling out in the gardens chatting to one another watching the sun go down. I don’t think we were paying too much attention to the wines, more to the conversation and if we enjoyed the wines or not.
We had a party bus on the way back, some golden oldies and good dance tunes – songs you can dance along to. All in all it was a lovely day, I really enjoyed myself and that is not the wine talking. I would highly recommend these guys and this guide. I would take another one of these tours again without hesitation.
Probably like me you are thinking what on earth is a Food Jam. These things are starting to become more and more popular in South Africa and in Cape Town. Food Jams are sort of a social come dine with me. You cook and eat your own four course meal. That is the basics.
So I arrived, I am the only single person at a valentine’s day social food jam – who could have guessed it. Immediately Lulu puts me to ease, telling what exactly is going on that I am not the only foreign person in the place. I soon move on to the Sauvignon Blanc the nerves getting the better of me.
We all picked a spoon out of a silicon jar, I am on team Venus. You then head to your table. All becomes clear, every table/team is making a course and then we combine it all at the end for the meal.
Team Venus was on dessert duty. Three recipes, chocolate fondant, macaroons and ice cream. Yes we had to made ice cream from scratch and spun sugar! The recipes were easy to follow and with the extra help if was hard to get anything wrong. The couple I was with was lovely, they were really friendly and chatty. Apparently I am a good sergeant major, making sure everything was done on time, and to the recipe – well as much as we could… not as easy at it looks.
Throughout the entire process we had help, Lulu, Jade and the others were around to help with everything we needed. I ruined the first lot of spun sugar however we just did it again. It was easy to ask for help, piping macaroons is no joke on your own.
The results were delicious, pasta, fresh veggies, beef wellington, salads galore. It was fantastic, and there were doggy bags if you want to take any home with you. The spun sugar, see below, was the most fun, I wish I could show you the food and the boomerang but this platform is not quite ready for that. The food went so quickly and it was quite dark by this point.
Yes that is Lions Head above those clouds. Yes that is me in the Blue Kayak.
So my friend and I went Sea Kayaking with Kaskazi. It was R400 for a couple of hours. I really great experience. The office is in a shell garage in Sea Point. There are lockers on site for your stuff. They recommend not taking anything you.
So you get a small briefing before hitting the boats. You climb in and adjust the pedals at the back or the footrest at the front. The person in the back is in charge of direction and the one in the front is in charge of the power.
The morning I did this you can see it was a little cloudy and misty – made for an interesting experience. It was eerie when you lose all aspect of where you are paddling to just into the middle of the sea.
On these experiences you can sometimes see some wildlife, we spotted a seal for a short time and there were some dolphins in the vicinity but they were elusive to us. So we were paddling up and down along Sea Point and back to Granger Bay and the Waterfront trying to keep an eye on the wall as well as maybe finding some animals.
The guides and the staff at Kaskazi were great, I would highly recommend this experience. It was something completely different and amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed this. My arms not so much I was very very tired! Definitely want to do it again in the sunshine.
This little cafe, has a big reputation, one of the most recommended places in the area. I was staying 10/15 mins from here at the Backpackers – another review following for this place. A lovely walk down the beach.
You can see a working harbour whilst enjoying your lunch and beyond the restaurant there is even a small beach which is nice and quiet.
There is large menu and large area for seating, there is good range of food from burgers to salads and fresh seafood. It is all moderately priced as well.
I ordered Hake and Rice – beautifully seasoned and grilled of course. Highly recommended – lovely setting and amazing food.
There are stingrays in this harbour, so keep your eyes out if you are in the area. There are a beaches beyond the harbour as well. It is a lovely area to spend an few hours relaxing.
The Southern Most Tip of Africa is a short drive from the Struisbaai, about 10 mins. There is parking at the bottom of the hill and it is free. There are bathrooms at the parking lot, these are the only ones in the area so if you are walking around a bit make sure to use them.
The Lighthouse is 33R to do the Museum and climb the tower. The Museum goes through the history of the lighthouse as well as the history of South African lighthouses. The museum is small room with boards all over the walls. Then you head to the central area to climb the 71 ladder steps to the top. The view is lovely from the top but it is imperative you know that they are steep ladder steps. One up and one down.
It is a 1km walk down to the Southern most Tip of the continent and then another 4km to the Meisho Maru shipwreck beyond. If you would prefer; you can drive to both of them, it is down a gravel path. It is an easy walk under foot in good shoes, gravel and stony just like the drive. It is not shady however, so ensure enough water and you are covered up.
The southern most tip is marked by a stone, and where the two oceans meet. In front of it, you can see a map of Africa with the mountain ranges highlighted. It is huge and the photos can not do it justice.
After this I suggest you head on a 30 mins walk, 4km you reach the Meisho Maru Shipwreck it is so close to shore, you can almost walk to it, but the rocks are a little sharp and slippery. – Good at sunset apparently. I didn’t venture down that far at suset.
It is a lovely morning out and about; Agulhas has a few nice restaurants again mainly fish is available, but it is all fresh fish which makes it so worth it.
Helpful Haz 