I went window shopping today! I bought four windows.
Tommy Cooper
I have to admit to rather liking shopping. Even grocery shopping can be quite enjoyable if you’re buying some of your favourite foods. And while shopping for clothes isn’t quite the unadulterated pleasure it was when I was younger, it’s still great to come across something that looks and fits just right, even if that’s a rarity these days! I don’t even have to be shopping for myself; Christmas shopping for gifts also gives me pleasure.
Whoever said money can’t buy happiness didn’t know where to shop
Gertrude Stein
But the most interesting shops, I would argue, are those you come across while travelling. I love to bring home a few souvenirs, but I don’t go too crazy with these; I don’t want to spend the bulk of my travel time shopping even though I quite enjoy it. However, you don’t have to be interested in making a purchase to get pleasure from shops on your travels. Window shopping is fun and can teach you a lot about a country: what people eat, what they wear, how they furnish their homes and how they enjoy themselves. And shops provide excellent street photography opportunities, which regular readers will know is one of my passions.
So come with me on a whistlestop tour around the world to see how and where other people shop. All these photos were originally shot in colour and converted with Nik Silver Efex to work for Margaret’s Monochrome Madness theme of ‘Buying and selling’. By the way, you won’t see any markets here as I covered that topic when I hosted a previous Monochrome Madness post.
My feature photo was taken in Paris, in one of my favourite streets there, the Rue de Seine.
Clothes shop on the Rue Mouffetard, Paris
In contrast, the famous Parisian department store, Samaritaine
A shop on a typically steep street in Valetta, Malta
Local shop in Sliema, Malta
Bookshop on Via Martelli, Florence
By the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal
‘Selfie’ with antique seller in Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Local shop in Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Small shop in Patan’s Durbar Square, Nepal
Souvenir shop in Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar
Dried fish shop, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
General store in Woody, California
Ready for Halloween in Grass Valley, California
52 Comments
Anonymous
I agree about the most interesting shops we come across being when we’re travelling and I think it’s because we’re more open and attentive with a curious mind when we travel. At home we’re more likely to overlook a lot of things because we’re so caught up in the familiar and familiar distractions✨
Sarah Wilkie
That’s true – and also at home we’re usually shopping for necessities in shops we go to so often that we barely notice anything beyond what we’re buying!
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equinoxio21
Another great selection, Sarah.
The dried fish in Sri Lanka caught my eye. I would have thought Spain or Portugal. Here in Mexico there is a long tradition of dry and salted cod.
(But then I must be biased, my fave is Rue de Seine…)
Sarah Wilkie
Many thanks 😊 You will know that shop in the Rue de Seine, I am sure? Dried fish is a big thing in Jaffna, we saw many shops like this, but none elsewhere in Sri Lanka.
equinoxio21
That particular shop didn’t ring a bell. But I’ll look it up next time.
With the heat dry fish makes sense.
grandmisadventures
Great collection- I love the variety of not only what they sell but the store signs above the shops
Toonsarah
Many thanks Meg 😀 Yes, the signs can often be as interesting as the shops themselves!
Klausbernd
Great pictures of these shops 👍 👍 We especially like the shops in Kathmandu. We were there 50 years ago but without a camera. We don ‘t have one except Hanne-Dina who is our photographer.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much 😊 I’m pleased you liked the Kathmandu shots in particular as I enjoyed exploring Thamel with my camera. I can’t imagine travelling without one!
Klausbernd
Hi Sarah
I travelled and still travel everywhere from Ladakh to the High Arctic without a camera. Taking pictures is stress for me. I like just like to look.
Do you look at your pictures later?
Klausbernd 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, they are full of memories for me 😀 And I also enjoy the creative side of photography, so I take photos even when at home.
Annie Berger
As always, Sarah, a geographically comprehensive selection of photos from around the world! Malta was one of my favorite travel destinations, as I was so surprised that the small island was so full of sights that appealed to us. Did you include the Halloween shop in Grass Valley because the holiday isn’t too far away?!
Sarah Wilkie
Many thanks Annie 😊 I did have the date in mind when I decided to include the Grass Valley shop 🎃
VJ
These are great. Such character you have captured.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much 😊
VJ
Welcome
wetanddustyroads
It’s time for our Christmas markets and this is the type of shopping I enjoy most (buying gifts for friends and family). I agree with some of your followers here – your street photography is really good! Malta was our first overseas destination, and I remember how much we loved popping into all the little shops you showed in your photos – we bought A LOT of souvenirs (that was 15 years ago and there are still Malta items in our house today 😉).
Sarah Wilkie
Ooh, too early to think of Christmas for me, even though our shops are trying to persuade us otherwise! I’ll wait till late October to start thinking about that 😀
Leanne Cole
You can always be counted on to show us some really interesting places Sarah and I’m not disappointed at all. These are wonderful. However, unlike you, I hate shopping. I do it all on my computer now. I hate the crowds and dealing with people. lol
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Leanne 😊 I do quite often buy things online, but if I can I prefer to see what I’m getting for my money – and not having the hassle of sending them back if they’re not what I hoped for!
Egídio
I’ve said it before that your street photography is top-notch. You proved it again! Whether by chance or not, your eye spots the right moment. That opening photo shows three people in three different stories. What a great capture! I’m glad you revealed the selfie. I would have missed it. Another great shot.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Egidio 😊 I do try and look for the right moment, but luck plays a big part. However they do say you make your own luck!!
Monkey's Tale
I’m on team fish. It does well in black and white. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Many thanks Maggie 😊 Glad to have another vote for those controversial fish!
the eternal traveller
I always find it intriguing when I read travel itineraries and there is always at least one mention of time allowed for shopping. We like to wander through a grocery store or local market but shopping isn’t our main objective. Like you, we enjoy seeing the shops rather than the products.
Sarah Wilkie
I agree about the time for shopping. As I said, I do like to pick up a couple of souvenirs but I get frustrated if I’m expected to spend time in very touristy shops when I could be seeing the sights or visiting more authentic local shops.
Marie
A lovely gallery, Sarah – I love that little shop in Valetta…and the fish!!!
Sarah Wilkie
Many thanks Marie 😊 I enjoyed wandering those streets in Valetta even if they were hard work at times!
restlessjo
I’m a bit with Anabel on the subject of fish and meat, Sarah, but I do think this is a wonderful gallery, showing off mono photography to its best advantage xx
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Jo 😊 Those fish seem to have divided opinions! I really didn’t expect them to be so controversial 😆
Heyjude
Another one for the dried fish. What an unusual shot. And I like the shop fronts rather than focusing on food which I prefer to be in colour.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Jude 😊 Yes, I deliberately chose to focus on the shops rather than the products – I wanted to create a street photography vibe here.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
I loathe shopping, but I do like your photographs. Well, except the fish – controversial opinion it seems 😀.
Sarah Wilkie
Haha yes, on the whole those fish seem to be popular 😀 I’m curious – is it the photo you dislike for some reason or the fish themselves?
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
The fish. As I said to Sue who also had lots of dead fish and meat, I’m not keen on seeing them but they look better in black and white!
Rebecca
Sometimes, it’s the shops themselves which are the main draw, with their quaint, elegant, and gorgeous architecture. I’m not a huge shopper, but I can see the appeal! Thanks for sharing, Sarah 😊
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Rebecca 🙂 I wouldn’t say I’m a huge shopper when travelling (there are too many other interesting things to do!) but I do like to explore local shops and perhaps pick up the odd thing as a memento.
Sue
Great selection, Sarah. Some most interesting finds, and the selfie quite amused me
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Sue 😊 I was rather pleased with that ‘selfie’ in Thamel, but this is the first time I’ve tried a B&W edit.
Sue
Great!
Anne Sandler
Wonderful street photography! I especially liked your feature photo and selfie images. You are the queen!
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thanks so much Anne 😊
bushboy
A wonderful and varied selection Sarah. I am on team dried fish and is a fab photo for a drive by
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Brian 😊 I’d seen several of those shops in passing so was pleased to be able to grab this shot!
margaret21
What an evocative selection of shots Sarah. It makes me want to get out my rucksack now! My favourites are the Nepali ones, though that dried fish shop takes some beating.
Sarah Wilkie
Many thanks Margaret 😊 I enjoyed your challenge theme, not least because it gave me a reason to share that dried fish shot! I took it from a car one evening and it didn’t really fit any of my previous posts about the city.
margaret21
No, it is a bit of a niche shot. But it deserves its 5 minutes of fame!
Marie
Wonderful gallery. Those dried fish are fascinating.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Marie 🙂 We saw similar shops all over Jaffna!
Teresa
Love your shopfronts Sarah. Great shots in Monochrome.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Teresa 😊