vacation finds

i returned to vancouver 2 weeks ago, after an unforgettable holiday in east Africa that culminated in 5 days in London town. i spent 14 days “roughing it” while on a camping safari in Kenya and Tanzania, then spent a few days in Nairobi. while my stay in Africa was more focused on enjoying the scenery and wildlife than shopping, i did manage a visit to the kazuri factory, which is a treasure trove of beautiful jewellery. better still, the company is committed to employing disadvantaged members (mostly single mothers) of Kenyan society.

i couldn’t visit london without a stop at braintree hemp. the favourable exchange rate combined with a great sale led to some serious shopping:

i also went to topshop’s flagship store at oxford circus, as fair-trade and eco-friendly label people tree has had a concession there for at least 3 years. to my surprise, people tree was no longer there, but can now be found at john lewis instead.

this was all just as well, as john lewis was on my must-visit list for knitting supplies (coincidentally, i was there during wool week). both john lewis and liberty have fantastic haberdashery departments. while walking down carnaby street, i came across all the fun of the fair, a lovely shop for the hip knitter.

in addition to shopping trips, my stay in London included visits to museums (London Transport Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the V&A, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and the Museum of London Docklands) and their gift shops.  i love to shop at museum gift shops because they usually carry interesting items and since shops are a large source of revenue for museums, it is a great way to support culture and heritage.

Advertisement