text and images britt-arnhild
For me London has always been the city of books, the city of book shops.
For my kids 10th birthday I´ve given them all a travel, with their mamma of course. I took Torgeir, Øystein and Ingrid to London, Marta to Venice (and then we let pappa come with us). When Ingrid was 10, we stayed in a small hotel in the Bayswater area. One day we took a bus tour to Stratford-upon-aven. Ingrid heard about Shakespeare for the first time in her life. She was thrilled by the guide´s tales, more so when the guide told that Shakespear might not have been Skapespear after all.
Every single night Ingrid and I spent in a BooksEtc in a mall on Queensway. She played in the children´s area. I read books, read books, read books........and no nights I could resist buying one.....or a few.
Three yeards ago I was in London again, stayed near Queensway and went back to the same BooksEtc. Read, swam in memories, bought a book,no..... a few.
Two years ago Terje, Marta, Ingrid and I were back in London, again close to Queensway. BooksEtc were not there anymore. Both Ingrid and I felt sad.
This time we stay in the Paddington area. Still not far from Queensway, and Ingrid wanted to go back to her Mall. "Mamma, can you remember we stayed every night in that book shop. It is sad it is closed now"
For me London has always been the city of books, the city of book shops.
When the girls left the Portobello area yesterday, to go to Oxford Street for shopping, I stayed behind. For a book shop safari.
If I happen to be in London on a Saturday, I always go to Portobello Market. I have never known that the area is a gem for book shops. Not until my blog reader and friend Fran.H.B sent me a small, hand drawn map after my last visit there, two years ago. Now I know better. It is a paradice :-)
Fran´s map showed me the way to the tiny travel book shop featured in the movie Notting Hill.
I never watch movies, so I have not seen this one, but heard enough to know it is good.
We have the dvd at home, so I guess it is now time to watch it.
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After Fran sent me the map, actually quite recently, she has discovered another book shop in the area, Lutyens & Rubinsten. Before leaving the Portobello/Notting Hill area, I visited there. And I fell in love! With the shop. With the books.
I came with a lot of extra space in my suitcase.
Now it is filling up.
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