Witweg: Portobello Road

And then there is Portobello Road, the farmer's market and antiques market. With bric-a-brac and rubbish, china, but also real antiques, priceless, furs, plus buyers wearing furs without being sprayed with paint by angry activists. This is Notting Hill with a different clientele.

genuine furs and leather

The street is a long, colourful vein pulsing right through this very distinguished, wide, and elegant area of London, indeed built on a hill with Notting Hill Church on the highest point, views extending in all directions. In contrast to Portobello Road with its colourful houses and shop fronts, here white stucco fronts, cast iron decorative gates and balconies, big palms in pots and tall windows. Portobello Road carries a stream of visitors, thickening as the days goes on, like a stream of lava or a colony of ants, marching along or loitering, taking pictures, browsing the many stalls and window shopping. The locals have already done their weekly shop for food, as we have, buying the crisp fresh loaves displayed on the stalls, the delicious cheeses and smoked meats, the root vegetables, such a variety here, colourful as well. The trendy cafés at that end of Portobello Road fill with locals who meet each other over a cafe latte or a nice lunch, gossiping. Many young professionals seem to live or congregate here. Mews are leading off Portobello Road, probably the former stables of the grand and rich houses and apartment buildings on the roads and avenues of Notting Hill. They are regrettably but wisely closed off for visitors. A pity, because as far as I can see they look very attractive and artistic. I only get a glimpse of them. But given the number of visitors coming here, even on a very cold Saturday in winter, I understand that decision.

No, not France but Notting Hill

I spot several perfect and unusual inkwells and inkstands in the antique shops. But here they certainly come with a big price tag, so I just feast my eyes.