Boxing Day is apt to have something of an anti-climactic feel to it, being as it is, the day after the day in preparation of which we have spent so much time and effort.

Grey skies over Upper Street

The weather was no help, being grey and rainy, but, then, we are in the midst of winter. To lift our spirits, we conceived a plan to go out to a cafe or restaurant for brunch.

Pigeons at the Co-operative Bank

The streets were far from busy (certain organs of the media will no doubt describe them as “deserted”) and the feelings of inertia seemed to have spread to the pigeons, still perched here are there on the buildings.

Islington Green

We passed through Islington Green which was as quiet as the surrounding streets.

Fluffed-up pigeon

This pigeon was fluffed up against the cold, looking very much as I felt.

Statue of Street Cat Bob

We paid a visit to the statue of Street Cat Bob. Someone has decorated it for Christmas.

Spire of St Mary’s

I caught this view of the spire of St Mary’s Church, seen looking along a little street called Collins Yard. (The old Collins Music Hall was nearby until destroyed by fire in 1958.)

Gallipoli Again

We passed cafe after cafe, finding them all closed, until we came to Gallipoli Again. This would suit us perfectly so in we went.

Inside Gallipoli Again

Gallipoli, as the name suggests, is a Turkish cafe restaurant.

The menu
Photo by Tigger

The menu is an intriguing mixture of Turkish and British items. Even the traditional British items, such as the vegetarian breakfast, which I chose, includes a Turkish twist, in this case a slice of Halloumi.

Walls covered with pictures

The restaurant walls are covered with pictures, photos and examples of Arabic calligraphy.

Turkish tea

We ordered Turkish tea with our meals.

Vegetarian Breakfast
Photo by Tigger

I chose a plain old vegetarian breakfast, though as I mentioned, it included a slice of grilled Halloumi.

Turkish Breakfast
Photo by Tigger

Tigger chose the Turkish Breakfast but asked for the sausage to be replaced with an extra piece of Halloumi to make it vegetarian. A Turkish breakfast is fine in hot weather but in winter, I prefer everything to be hot!

St Mary’s Church

The restaurant is opposite St Mary’s Church. There is a bus stop there but we are going to walk home. Tigger suggested having a coffee on the way.

Quiet Upper Street

We walked back along Upper Street, hoping to find somewhere open for coffee. The street is still quiet though that is understandable in view of the fact that it’s Boxing Day and nearly everywhere is closed.

Beribboned shop door

Many of the shops and businesses along Upper Street are decorated but I photographed this door in particular as it illustrates a growing trend to decorate the door – whether at home or at a business – with ribbons like a gift parcel. It will be interesting to see whether numbers increase again next year.

Camden Passage

We went through Camden Passage as Tigger was hoping that Redemption Roasters would be open. They weren’t.

Inside Starbuck’s

At the crossroads, we found Starbuck’s open and, faute de mieux, went in. Starbucks was allowing customers to sit in and so we did.

Coffee and tea

I’m not keen on Starbuck’s coffee so I had tea, though it too was disappointing after the Turkish tea at Gallipoli.

After this we made our way home and I think we shall stay at home for the rest of the day. We will probably go out again tomorrow because I have an important purchase to make but more about that in due course.