The Tunnel and Lower Marsh

‘Ello!

I figured you wanted more sights and sounds of London so I purposely went on an expedition around my office through The Tunnel and Lower Marsh at lunch on Tuesday.

The Tunnel is a designated graffiti area where anyone can come and showcase their creative street expressions without any penalty.

It was established by the famous graffiti artist, Banksy. http://www.banksy.co.uk/.

However, artists are not allowed to express racism, hate or otherwise negative or exclusionary propaganda that would be hurtful to others. That will be painted over. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7377622.stm

I had briefly walked through the tunnel before; but today, I wanted to get a better feel for the spirit of the Tunnel.

I didn’t spend a lot of time but it was still amazing.

I was really disappointed that the original Banksy image has long been covered over but people in the office say that it is like a living art piece that changes daily.

Today, when I first walked through I just snapped a few pics. But when I came back through with my lunch, there were two guys that had started their painting.

I asked if I may take a few pictures of them while they worked. The tattooed guy with billed cap, who was spraying the outline, gave me an, “Ah-yo” around the cigarette in his mouth and gave me the International “Whuzup” head lift.

That was all I needed. I snapped away.

It is funny that right before I left Dallas, I was really interested in going to see a movie called “Exit Through the Gift Shop” where an actor Rhys Ifans was on a journey to capture the famous graffiti artist who has never been photographed. When he does run into Banksy, then Banksy turns the whole focus of the movie away from himself into and exploration of Rhys. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587707/

Anyway, I was telling my friend Matt (aka DJ Whizper) that he might like that movie. When he travels, he enjoys creating his own graffiti photography tours, I think the last one was Ireland. I know my brother, Eric, would also like this because he has really been working to finesse an urban documentary style and an everyman artistry of expression in his photography. “Ay-yo, guys” Wuzup head lift to ya.

Well, what do you know, I am mere yards away from a very famous area that Banksy himself set up so that people can express themselves freely every day. What are the odds?

On the other side of the tunnel is an area called Lower Marsh. http://www.lower-marsh.co.uk/market.html

Okay, Lower Marsh looks like it is a number of storefront style shops and some roadside stands (except they are actually in the road) where they sell everything.

This is a roadside (except in the road) creperie. He makee savory and sweet french style crepes. There was a Mexican Taco stand (viva Mehico) and a Thai curry stand all along the same line.

I walked down with a friend and then we split off because I was taking pictures and checking out some of the stores then getting food.

There were some fun shops with jewelry, restaurants, housewares (looked like hardware and household cleaning supply stores), clothing, homeopathy(alternative meds and massages), and newsagents (newspapers, magazines, and they even had a display of liquor on sale in one the Newsagent window.

Maybe some of these newsagents are like bodegas that you see in the east in the States. I am not sure why you would actually need a whole fifth of liquor in the middle of the day but…whatever gets you through.

I even saw one guy selling underwear. I just wonder if he had a big market for them? He thinks he is all that, too? He plays loud music and gives a long smoldering look to all the ladies passing by. He is saying this with his eyes “Interest you in some pants? Mine are the best in town.” They call them pants (I think this is like “drawers or draw’s”) and knickers (I think this is like saying “panties”) here. So I have to be really careful to say trousers when I am talking about what I have on my legs. If I say, well I think I am going to wear pants? Then that might seem like a TMI moment. No, I didn’t see any cartoon or color banded numbers.

I am amazed at just how friendly and helpful people on the streets. While I was waiting for my lunch at this really over crowded Thai restaurant, these two guys from Senegal were waiting on the street for “take away” too. They told me all about more sites to see related to the National Theater, the BMI Imax Theater and a National Film center and he said lots of it is free, especially in the summer. I am also near Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. They one guy who did “most o’ tha talkin’” said he had been in London for 20 years now and that those were some of his “fay’vrit” activities.

When I walked to the end, this man asked me to take a picture of him and send it to all of my girlfriends (“Guwl-frans”). So here you go ladies. Looky there…Looky there.

Let me tell you about today’s bachelor, just in case the picture doesn’t say enough. I didn’t catch his name but we will call him F. Standman, Sr. I "helped" his profile a little. Tee Hee.

He is a seasoned and well established entrepreneur whose business focus centers around the urban distribution of whole vegan fare at reasonable but market competitive prices.

His business is privately held and primarily targets South East and Central London commuters and tourists. His business philosophy is simple: You want it, I sell if. If I don’t have it…maybe tomorrow. Ladies, he is headquartered on Lower Marsh Street in a corner “office”.

His corporate motto (could very well may match his life’s motto): I have fresh fruit. May I interest you in my peaches?

As for my current adjustments, this morning I was so excited it was cool and raining out this morning. So, I tried to walk to work. Nope...didn’t make it. I realized this was going to be a bad idea and got on the train. I will have to work my way up to that.

My colleagues (they don’t really use co-workers here.) have been so fab. Every day I meet more and more people. I am really grateful for several of them for fowarding details places to see and things to do.

Cheers,

Erika