Birthday Celebrations at Camden Passage

Lucky me! I got to spend the day with two of my favorite people, my son and his wife, Cristen, on her birthday last month. She decided she wanted to spend the day at Camden Passage,

so off we went for an adventure. London's fun like that--a treasure box of neighborhoods and places just waiting to be unlocked and discovered.

Located in the Islington area, Camden Passage is known worldwide as a thriving antiques village with shops and stalls full of this and that.

The  main trading days are Wednesday and Saturdays, but if you go on a Sunday like we did, you are still likely to find a few outside vendors and open shops to interest you.

What's an antique village in England without a silver dealer? You can find several antique shops in the area, as well as vendors who set up tables.

Even if you are there on days other than market days, you'll find all sorts of shops to entertain you, like this sweet shop, Issy's Milky Way,

or perhaps this vintage shop which caught our eye.

There were many beautiful one of a kind items there, including this wedding dress from the 20's,

along with many others. The day we were there, a bride-to-be was trying one on to use as a second wedding dress to change into for her wedding reception.

Wonder which bride this veil could charm?

Note to self--review Cora's wedding dress from the Downton Abbey episode to see her in a 1920's wedding dress again!

It's not uncommon to find furs at antique markets and vintage shops,

and Cristen spotted one right away that took her fancy. With a Harrod's label in the collar, and a marked down price on the tag,

it was too good a buy for a birthday girl to pass up, so it came home with her!

I fancied this mink jacket, but alas it was not such a steal, so it remained in place.

What do you think, should I have grabbed it while I could?

As meal time approached, there were several options, an outside cafe,

long queues for this spot,

The Breakfast Club,

Scotch eggs from one of the vendors,

fresh cheeses for a picnic, 

but Cristen decided on a smoked salmon sandwich,

and Jason and I got our "burrito fix" at Chipotle's.

Then it was on to the Columbia Road Flower Market,

where the sweet scent of floral arrangements

pervaded the air and made the fighting the crowds a little more bearable.

Wrapping up Cristen's birthday with a beautiful bouquet of flowers seemed like the best way to call it a day and head back home.

Best wishes and many happy returns, Cristen.