Camden Market

 

 

 

This weekend I decided to explore Camden Town and spend some time shopping at the surrounding markets and shops. Unfortunately, I don't know much about the Camden area's history, so I really have no reference for how the area has changed and whether it has always been a hub for sales and trade, or if modern-day Camden is a product of gentrification. I immediately noticed after exiting the tube station just how packed it was. In fact, I don't think I've ever been somewhere that busy this entire program. As expected, a good portion of the people there were tourists, especially since Camden is famous for its shopping and specifically its large number of souvenir shops. Another thing that stood out to me was the homeless population in that area. There were far more homeless individuals out along the streets, and they even seemed to have set up their beds and items along the sidewalk. This felt odd to me as it's hard to imagine the same thing happening on Oxford Street since there are so many big businesses located along that street and law enforcement is more likely to disturb them in order to protect the "image" of the area. This made me question why the Camden area is not similarly protected. Is it because most of the businesses there are run by independent vendors and not larger corporations? Another thing I noticed about Camden Market was that it is located on the side of a river, which added a whole other level to its appeal as a tourist location. To take advantage of the river as an economic opportunity they were offering boat rides and had at some point installed several bridges overlapping the water, the perfect photo-op for a young couple. Finally, the last thing I found surprising and quite entertaining was the presence of punk rock culture in Camden. There were flags and art installations all over commemorating rock, and it seemed to be another thing that visitors were attracted by. In addition to this, I also saw a bunch of stalls and shops selling memorabilia and merch dedicated to popular punk or rock bands, so it was an interesting aspect to Camden Market that I wasn’t expecting but seemed to be working out economically for the businesses located there.

I Really Like Turkish Food

Today we journey to a part of London where Turkish culture was present and extremely vibrant. As a class we had a meal at Diyarbakir Kitchen where I ordered the Iskender, a dish that Dr. G recommended. I had never tried food like this before and have to admit that I was a little hesitant about how well the yoghurt was going to taste with the lamb but it was probably one of if not the best meal I've had in London. Being in that area of London and experiencing the culture and food at that restaurant not only opened my eyes to the diversity, cultural understanding, and inclusion in this city but it also made me question why I wasn't seeking out experiences like this in my state and hometown. I'm excited to go back home and explore different things, and maybe step outside of my comfort zone as I did today to try new things and experience things other than what I'm used to. The area in which the restaurant was located was extremely impressive as it felt that everything there was linked in some way back to the culture and the presence of all of these Turkish restaurants and shops made me curious to know more about the residents that live there. I wasn't expecting the Turkish culture to be that present and was under the impression that the are would be more like Brick Lane in that while it did have remnants of the Bangladeshi community, it was mostly overrun with businesses brought on by gentrification, such as the vintage shops. However, this area was not at all like that and it seemed that the Turkish community was still very much present and in control of the space which I really enjoyed. The food and company was amazing and I can't wait to try more Turkish foods in the future. 

East End

 

Today I visited the East End of London while on an excursion for another class. I felt it was important to discuss this visit because it is extremely close to Brick Lane, and felt that it added some additional context to the history of the area that we read about in class on Tuesday. Our group was led by a blue badge guide that was instructed to speak to us specifically about the inequalities and poverty within the area. Our tour guide spoke a lot about the history of the Hagguenauts and how they were kind of the first people to inhabit the area. It was interesting to walk around and take a closer look at some of the homes and building they were responsible for building. In addition to this our guide also explained the same kind of cyclical flow of migrants coming in and moving onto other areas, specifically how the hagguenauts dispersed all over the country, stating that about 1 out of 4 brit’s could be traced back to a hagguenaut or french ancestor. Another thing I really enjoyed about the tour was that she showed us one of the last remaining jewish synagogues in the area, explaining that the jewish population has dwindled significantly over the years to a mere couple thousand. It was kind of sad to hear that because of this the synagogue was now struggling to remain open. We also got to see how the area has been gentrified over the years. Our guide showed us both an old soup kitchen for jewish groups struggling with poverty and an old homeless shelter run by nuns. Both of which had now been converted to high end apartments and housing. In addition to this we also saw Spitalfields Market which was also nearby and had been present there for over a hundred years, I would be very interested in looking at old pictures of how it was ran and operated, including what type of people were visiting. I really enjoyed this excursion as it allowed me to learn more about the area which provided more context to the material and conversations we’ve been having about Brick Lane recently. 

• Francesca :)

Piccadilly Circus

 

 

Today I explored the area around Piccadilly Circus. The area was just another example of how diverse London actually is, as well as how welcoming the city is to all groups of people. The area in itself is impressive because of how it's situated between Chinatown and the SOHO area, so you can kind of experience three vastly different cultural landscapes all within a fifteen minute walk. For example I bought a taiyaki ice cream from a bakery under the Chinatown Gate and finished it in Piccadilly Circus next to the M&M and Lego stores. The proximity to Chinatown and the SOHO area of course makes the area a tourist hotspot and you can see this reflected in the kinds of businesses present there. There are several souvenir shops, big brand-name stores, and hotels. In addition, the area is also crowded with tour groups and hop-on hop-off tour buses. The thing I enjoyed the most about the area however was the decorations for Pride, and it seemed that every other business was participating in the festivities as well. Again, I feel that this supports the idea of London as an extremely diverse and progressive city. This is sort of hard to come by in Texas, so seeing and experiencing it here is very interesting and exciting. Another thing I found interesting about the area was the number of theaters and casinos. I am aware that theaters do tend to be in areas that are frequently visited by tourists however i’ve never really considered the role casinos play in attracting tourists. Especially coming from a state where there aren’t any, it was weird to see them in such a central and public area. I actually would be interested to learn what legislation is currently in place in London regarding businesses like casinos and whether the local community welcomes them or if there is any contention over it. I really enjoyed the food and watching the people there, and overall had a really great day at Picadilly Circus.  

- Francesca :)

Brick Lane

 

 

 

Today our class went on an excursion to Brick Lane, an area of London famous for its connection to several immigrant groups including the Bangladeshi people. Recently it has also become a topic of debate over the impact of gentrifcation and who has the right to fight for sontrol over a certain space. While reading about Brick Lane both independently and with the class, I was curious what percentage of the area was truly overcome with signs of gentrification such as pricey vintage shops and expensive bistros. I mean its truly hard to imagine how a space operates when you really only have articles to go off of, therefore I really enjoyed our excursion as I was able to experience the place for myself. Prior to our visit I felt that maybe the gentrification was at very early stages from the way it was described however I believe it has been well affected by incoming businesses and initaitives to develop the area into a touristy location. There was however still remnants of the diverse community still very prevalent within the area, especially as we moved closer to the mosque. The entire experience was definitely conflicting especially because I enjoy vintage clothes and markets and it almost seems that to contribute to those businesses is kind of an active betrayal of the actually local community. I was also mesmerized by all of the street art and can imagine that these installation and paintings were also a byproduct of this gentrification, something used to add character to the area. Therefore it's hard to feel like you're justified in enjoying the experience, when you know that these spaces have in a way been ripped from the community. Especially when you consider place attachment, and the possibility that the vintage shop you're exploring now could've been a restaurant that held extreme sentimental value to the bangladeshi people just a couple years ago. I enjoyed our excursion and hope to discuss some more about the affect these changes in the neighborhood have on the local community and cuture cultivated by said group over the years they've inhabited the area. Very excited to discuss our trip in class!

- Francesca :)

Weekend Trip: Liverpool & Wales

 

 

 

I have already talked a bit about Liverpool and Wales but I thought i'd try and relate my experiences there to diversity, a topic we've been discussing this week. Something I noticed about both areas over the course of the weekend was the absence of certain ethnic and racial groups. In comparison with London these two areas were significantly less diverse which prompted me to question what makes certain areas more attractive to migrants than others? As we've discussed in class this week, immigration is often the result of push and pull factors, and for most immigrants, the largest pull factor is increased job and economic opportunities. If we compare Liverpool and London, its no competition over whether who has the larger more diverse job market. This is primarily because while London is a popular tourist destination it also holds signifcant weight in the world market with its business and finance district. Liverpool on the otherhand hold most of its economic impact in its dockyard's and is not a hub for wealthy businessmen and corporate offices. Overall from the persepective of an immigrant, London is by far the best bet for new opportunities and something also has to be said for it's long history of being a place of trade and area which allowed and invited in numerous diverse groups. I would be interested to learn the origins of Liverpool as I wonder if it was established to be another version of London or did the founders set out to separate and distance themselves from the growing city and its increasing diversity. Another thing I'd be curious to watch unfold in the generation to come is will we continue to associate urban areas with diversity and rural areas without it, or will the increased interest in social equity for immigrants result in success for ethnically and racially diverse groups at a level higher than what we've witnessed this far, spurring a move from cities to rural areas as is typical of those with high incomes who are looking for a calmer life in suburban areas. Will this mean a more diverse image and definition of urban and small town areas? These are questions that are important to ask ourselves as we consider the future of some of our greatest cities, and if and how progress will affect them, including potential consequences. 

- Francesca :)

Goodbye Paris :(

 

 

 

I spent my last day in Paris on Sunday and a bit into Monday morning as well due to a delayed flight so I figured i'd talk a little more about my experience there. On my last day in the city we explored one of its most popular tourist destinations: the Louvre. The museum was floor to ceiling covered with brilliant paintings and each room filled with intricate sculptures. Everything was so beautiful and my day was made when I got to take a selfie with Mona Lisa. Something that I immediately noticed when entering the Louvre was just how many different people were there, it honestly felt like every time I turned my head, another group of tourists was speaking a new language I couldn't understand. For some reason I had this assumption that once I got to Paris, I would only be hearing French but every corner of the city was diverse in both skin color and dialect. In fact you could see the long rich history of diversity in France through the art displayed at the Louvre. The museum not only had extensive art and sculptures from different cultures just as that of the Islamic people but also it seemed that almost every significant work displayed there was that of a foreign artist so enamoured with France (or so they led me to believe) that they donated significant portions of their collection to the Louvre. Another bit of diversity I encountered while I was there was the hostel I was staying at for the weekend. As seen in the first picture, I visited the restaurant directly attached to my hostel and was thoroughly surprised to see just how many different people had traveled here to France. What i found particularly shocking was the age range because while I had this idea that those who usually stayed in hostel were usually young and in their twenties that was far from the truth. Overall I really enjoyed my last day in Paris and felt comfort in knowing that there were other foreigners enjoying the same sights and experiences as me.

- Francesca :)