I have been looking forward to today all week. No. Scratch that. I've been looking forward to today since I found out that Portobello Road actually exists.
Bed Nobs and Broomsticks pilgrimage? HECK YES.
We were going to leave the flats at 8:30am sharp! Unfortunatley, I realized at 1:00am that I had no idea how to work Ashley's alarm clock, and everyone else was asleep. It had taken her three days to finally figure the thing out, and so I didn't even bother. And instead, I just crossed my fingers and went to sleep.
I awoke to the sound of Ashley blowing her nose. ... I raised my eyebrows and mumbled from the top bunk, "What time is it?"...
7:51am!
What are the chances?? Just enough time to hop in the shower, hop out again, blow dry my hair, and put on some makeup. I was simply destined to go to Portobello Road today! That's all there is to it!
We all sort of dragged our feet as we walked to the tube, and peered at our maps, yawning. But as we got closer and closer to our desintation, I couldn't help getting a little jittery. Portobello Road! THE Portobello Road! I was finally going to walk down the street I'd sung about since I was little! I could feel myself getting more and more excited, as the sounds of faint music began lilting towards us, and the amount of people walking in the same direction began to grow. I almost thought in just a moment, we'd all burst into song, dancing around like in Enchanted, singing "Portobello Road! Portobello Road! Street Where the Riches of Ages are Stowed!"....
Alright. The masses didn't start singing all at once like they do in Disney Movies.
BUT. Portobello Road came into view, and a man with a stand up bass was plucking away, giving my feet just the right atmosphere, to take their first steps onto Portobello Road.
The street went on for EVER. Shops and tents and booths running down the center, and lining the sidewalks on either side. There were hoards of people. There were antiques... old silver and trinkets, broaches and rings, boxes and toys, and nick nacks, and clocks, and watches. There were hand bags, and side bags, and back packs, and totes. There were short scarves, and long scarves, and warm scarves, and light scarves... lace, cashmere, silk, sequins. Books, journals, maps, globes. Dresses and hats and blouses and shoes. Original artwork, crafts, photos. You could spend hours going down one side of the street, and never see the half of it!
I got a little engrossed in one booth or another, and became separated from the girls in my group. "Ah, well, no matter! I'll run into them eventually"... FALSE. after about ten minutes, and hundreds of people, I realized this was an unlikely outcome. So, I searched in earnest.
Don't worry. I found them. But goodness, I was worried for a minute.
You know, I've been searching for the perfect bag the last few weeks. I had this image in my head, that I couldn't quite describe, but I knew I'd know it when I saw it. The trouble was, I hadn't seen it yet... I have looked in every place you could imagine. And it just... was no where to be found. And I'll be honest, I'd begun to lose hope.
Well... as we were walking down Portobello road, looking into shops and booths... there it was! All of a sudden, I looked up, and there was my bag. Just hanging there. Looking at me. ... I knew immediately that it was mine, and it had been mine in the premortal existance. (Ok, maybe not. that's probably a little bit sacreligious). But, I'm telling you, it was THE ONE. I touched it, and it was soft and pliable and worn. I turned it over, and it simply oozed personality. Straps, and buckles, and dangling leather. It was vintage and perfect and mine. And when I asked how much it was, the man said... "20 quid". DONE! ... No way you can get a nice leather side bag for 20 quid. It just doesn't happen. Unless you're me. And the stars align perfectly while you're on your destined trip to Portobello Road. I mean, REALLY.
I bought my bag, and wore it, and loved it, and fingered the leather as I walked. I had a gigantic permanent grin on my face, and everyone thought I was nuts. But I just love that bag. And I'm so happy I finally found it.
... We bought some delicous bruchetta from an Italian couple, and ate it on the side walk. I watched people walk up and down the streets, and chewed contentedly.
And then, it was time to go.
We saw Eurydice. And I cried.
But mostly I was just happy. Because so many of my little girl dreams were fulfilled today!
Who knew a silly street could be so wonderful??
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