A tale of two cities.

Today we traversed London in many and not many ways. We set off from Fish Island and ended up on Eel Pie Island. Two very different yet similar communities.
On the one hand the cutting edge arty bohemia of the East End makes the laid back wealth of the West's almost Sunday art club artiness seem quaint and dated. But on the other when you look at the wild rock and roll abandon of Eel Pie's past you cut it some slack.
We wandered around it's narrow paths exploring and marvelling at it's rich history and seclusion. Access is via a narrow footbridge so no cars are on the island; except in the 60s a mini was allowed to deliver coal because it was just wide enough to fit the bridge.
Anyway I digress.
We came across a huge steel door barring our path that said "No public access". We opened it and waltzed in like we owned the place and found ourselves in a working boatyard. Fantastic!
In contrast to the multimillion pound houses right outside, this place was a fully functioning grimy and messy relic of the last fifty or more years. I'm sure if I'd rooted around a bit I'd have found a 1960s Pirelli calender and a packet of Senior Service.
It turns out its the way through to some artists studios that have been formed from the shells of long drydocked boats.
And then we were transported back to the other world of noise and graffiti and the hip buzz of Hackney Wick-ed art festival and home.