I had a look on Google to find something about ‘*Aladdin's Cave*'. The search revealed a big nothing. Historical facts about an old bric-a-brac junk shops are not retained it seems, and nobody gives a shit. ![34_IMG_5583_34.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoyQ2PBchoMw7taLrhcrUoCHgNVoForSZyFYJPbuRrKMbgvWiCK53TDknrvZuufKQi1.jpg) The sign told me, 'Fridges, Freezers, TVs, etc…', oh and house clearances. The last part is more akin to a 'junk shop'. @anidiotexplores had already done '*Aladdin's Cave*’ and not recently. We could not rely on his intelligence on how to get in. From my perspective, it looked like several houses glued together and made into a business. It was not close to anything in particular and looked like it had suffered an arson attack. ![35_IMG_5584_35.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EowFfiuNkTn11fwarHgGYZnkjbbsKnANsRFfgQPDeTBvzcE5eqkxMKYbpiUk6ueMK5Q.jpg) I wasn't expecting priceless artifacts from India or full-sized illegal ivory tusks from African Elephants, it was probably yet another dilapidated ruin with perhaps some photography opportunities. ![Street_May19.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Ep5mAMnEi4ApKimtCkaTBjdP2vhLFczeXPkktv2yMdAU6RjMBYiAi8PAfaHjrtVMJbW.JPG) ***…'this is a street view from May 2019 and an open-for-business store. I would guess COVID killed this one followed by a fire’…*** [Source]( https://www.google.com/maps) Climbing a wall and balancing precariously with my arms outstretched, I reached for what looked like a solid shelf landing area and pulled myself onto the second floor. ![1_IMG_5549_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23wMaX4z2JvYaePLtJBeKnoKLfgeLAYe88HPCB5V1ujLwAyNBRk1toiAPdSvR6m37kbGn.jpg) It was looking a little bleak and smoke-damaged. ![2_IMG_5550_2.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo4CWcER3HVd8qwWytyKtNFB8w95JtZpcHPMMVYrySXfuSBFyHNiJCYNDved9tQkFFv.jpg) @lpff had joined us for this and several forthcoming explores in the area and I distinctly remember him saying, '*don't tell me you are going down there?*'. ![3_IMG_5551_3.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo4CWXN5Vm35WVudcPhT4C8Mh7H6Qp11HwF6wAzdJnH1wUXXjH5vmVC5M9xbkQfgLTB.jpg) Why of course I was; I wanted to see what was on that far shelf which was no surprise.., a load of pottery. We were in the land of pots, after all. Going any closer than this would mean stepping on much-broken pottery with maybe not much else underneath. ![4_IMG_5552_4.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoCgG9U7iTwQ6QMbRjCZVEMYhYFg8PtNNpfjWmu9uPubGdb7e3adxYYSTu47jsAWvJE.jpg) Halfway down the '*pot room*' I noticed this sitting around. It's an item from a house clearance no doubt. I see vans arriving at car boot sales during the summer months trying to sell all this type of unwanted junk. ![5_IMG_5553_5.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo8TECArsxgTYTkpaTT5o3sbShK72ddQJhagfchEA71tSHuLFcFJSBURKoJFYPo5kne.jpg) ‘*Aladdin's Cave*' was a ridiculously dangerous place if you wanted to progress with your exploration. The safety-conscious would stop at this room as the only way forward was to stand on those doors, complete with gaping holes underneath. Had they been placed as a helpful way to get over there, or maybe a trap to main and disable the naïve and gullible? ![12_IMG_5560_12.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo8Tr1AHQwJEw13GEpWuXJNuybnTQNT8cdgXro1jrrmWDzk2WJHR5f1fhg11qhqyvmz.jpg) ![10_IMG_5558_10.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23tSYH5dMJtqRXeheN1ZNgzwitjRB3udFxQ3MebMJNxd9QDpXi5cW3j5buxy7o8Ex91uE.jpg) They did bend a little and creaked slightly, but all of us made it to this side. @lpff seemed a little more safety conscious than us and was balking a little. I think he has had several past close calls and that can do it for you. ![9_IMG_5557_9.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23wCBeHj8kDdvDp7yeG8C53wZoBq27q9TemVXsCrnuWLaSEAdCWbBVUmLve2sVqeWuh8W.jpg) Passing a window, we noticed nobody around or waving to us. ![6_IMG_5554_6.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoCi5KxT4TSc4EhzuHMi4LvQK4yPPtnwUGCo616Lcg34gv1fHsksZk1DTb9DxXm6VAt.jpg) ![7_IMG_5555_7.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoGzLSS6giTgk8hbcY1xgZA6PsrNd35yfCN7zgHG6pnDEcqFBju5g9UyeXwDWD8KJTX.jpg) ![11_IMG_5559_11.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23vi3xAvimJRSBQw3g8nnYXs7xKWTbp3XDJKXzUVuiTgoJHCEJ1qbqcKGZ2zmew9BLMkD.jpg) Beyond were more blackened rooms and some stairs. They seemed a little dodgy but if you ignore the big hole, and take it easy they were manageable. ![30_IMG_5578_30.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23u69YUf9Wx548yHMVPYoAQbGzgdye3tDTPFsqJgyNn3YPr373MTgBZ9YKjdVBw1ZyEQR.jpg) In fact, there were two ways down. This is the alternative one. It was a case of the lesser of two evils. Either of them could have proven fatal. ![13_IMG_5561_13.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23u6BUmkBaZrz4SbAAVHLw9swgVRbsW5Ea4vt71XaHNcH6MzAFCK1XZTuLpQ5yRV3ohts.jpg) Things were now getting a little easier with the next flight a lot more stable. We descended onto the ground floor of '*Aladdin's Cave*’ in search of eastern promise. ![14_IMG_5562_14.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoyQTvbQ24nwSYw4Q4kaVerVYtqk7WvHwqzNkPaMvLgsRWRK9SFWitsAve54f4Rf6Pu.jpg) More like Eastern Junk. The room was full of old machinery, parts of TVs, gas canisters, and traffic cones.., I mean where do the cones come from? ![17_IMG_5565_17.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo6LP1GhUYsNoPwGDNkftysSyTmQpU65u2qmKrjZ6wpuVYKFev1QUVeSCjVneQDSESX.jpg) ***…’after many explores one becomes accustomed to standing on piles of stinking shit just like this. It’s as natural as sucking on your lady’s breasts during foreplay’…*** ![15_IMG_5563_15.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EpLhud7XxXaA9NfkP6bpXLEDtGb3JUakkYjRDpQUxaH27yggEYBnncAVHrp1Gfdp1KD.jpg) ![16_IMG_5564_16.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eoc8WjKCZJEixd6hN9GVF1kb7Hpz4VfdLcNYpqGF62CPLwAd9Pjo29fhQTKFbv1Vjhy.jpg) 'Ceramics International'…, that way says the sign. Were the businesses interconnected? We would soon find out. ![19_IMG_5567_19.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EonnRTV4kbPcH7pSYiHjZ8ZU4hUbXjr2TQaHxRWLV6R24ZV6ek9NRGBgRALUjTQEgqc.jpg) Now this is just confusing. It’s supposed to be a junk shop, not a restaurant. ![18_IMG_5566_18.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoK6ryd3J4krSqat1uGsiiCfwEL6vAHQGxmn5ckqL1HcpAoaxpMzJKsvazFb9cNvWxs.jpg) Mixed in with the traffic cones were cat boxes, lots of them and many being incomplete and doused with an unhealthy spillage of pigeon shit. ![20_IMG_5568_20.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoErSxeMcUZjrt9cRXryUeSexDUMHH9vCG2oqb6GpUkH35vy8pQaZrsd5LvPW2RhMk3.jpg) There were easier routes out rather than trying to climb through this window. ![22_IMG_5570_22.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eoc7WQGKJzYk3j5XFQMfcrrT2aJ3Rq4c6iFCzAPArRM4aUyFQdRsF6bQeKeGGaLrUp9.jpg) ‘*Aladdin's Cave*' seemingly specialised in the grotty parts of mobile phones. They were everywhere and all unsalvageable. ![21_IMG_5569_21.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoAbCMdno52bzAqEFJy8okGm9PtYmU1rTok9Fb34ANwV1aCbY6KQUdfHcoZ3FvfKAUu.jpg) This was one way into the next stage of this exploration, that was... '*Ceramics International*'. We were to find an easier route rather than climbing over those fifty sofas to get there. ![23_IMG_5571_23.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EogQGbo7LHppk1zHH6YCiNfamhgQgjbw8q3KZMfuBtwefHQawuH4ndZ6JpnTxCmLUho.jpg) I do like to use the local amenities if possible. Taking a piss while taking in nature, I mean what more can you ask? ![24_IMG_5572_24.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23tvkg49EbJbzoASz12BjCSxZEqtcgF9CgGpgh9iMWBn2raXMsvyc8En2U5PJfZbfoqDT.jpg) ![26_IMG_5574_26.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoGyvxdsdx23QHwVZmKWjf9dSreqiteE6GuGrAQBSa9gmVTwV3kiwkUkQr1EoPDkbKY.jpg) This room was so junk-crammed we didn’t bother. There could well have been treasures of the crushed type far down there underneath. ![25_IMG_5573_25.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoeEseGuS4yrSwLqcZbirtDWCPeR9cpwkccfLcKSFFuNrjUSkQJ5Afukx3FkTimEEAZ.jpg) A working TV? Likely not! ![36_IMG_5735_36.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23wWyKDvMG7Y2Tv9S5gaAt5JjFdhxjWuujipiPC1H2Ua2yDvBfRb5dbhWy9aMaZydhcLk.jpg) The old entrance is not particularly inviting to customers these days. ![27_IMG_5575_27.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo4Az2nz6SXGMDs3UHj4ok7J5vvVA7Qfo6pxfvNa4cCvkYv5sWjGYxPCB4ukfeZ2pdf.jpg) ![28_IMG_5576_28.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23tmKwA9ymsLwhT9DUwGeukL5GW6CYhiRUe3aAUzBVi9Z7nWMRwKrgvJrKowRHppTU82v.jpg) We walked around the areas which could have once been jammed with freezers that don't freeze very well and TVs you have to clout every five minutes for them to behave. ![29_IMG_5577_29.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23wgSSvnmkvocvvAvAccgqd4XoUG5TJhuZUsXNgQxNQa7GZ3KkirYmG33zMjbVNHyCk43.jpg) Inspector Morse was sitting in the corner, or rather half of the complete collection. I was not a fan and preferred John Thaw in The Sweeney. ![37_IMG_5736_37.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EouA7e3fonWuGSm65rPQZxDUVzMfGZXCFBsQoDdUGfhZKWSF664z21X34A1eJ73RcJC.jpg) The Bachelors, urk.., that’s dad music. ![32_IMG_5580_32.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23vsUqiLGm4RKhAtuPH959gLFExZiShVnb3QFZ5E3K8pdDnQh2gjq2q1a8ogJ5twD96gm.jpg) ![31_IMG_5579_31.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EogQDmXKivztSFq3GnDY1LDFKwKVKH2Z872MYsf6n96VmtpMyDTpqUEfsDbNRNZvBXN.jpg) Heading further into ‘*Aladdin's Cave*’ we passed the boundary and entered ‘*Ceramics International*’…. ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png) Do you like posting your Urbex content and photography for **FREE** on Facebook and YouTube? I like to get some form of reward for my work and every time I create I do just that. Take a look at **[The Urbex Community on HIVE](https://peakd.com/c/hive-104387/created)**. If you want to keep creating for **FREE** then ignore what you are reading. If you want to be like me and gain something other than **BUGGER ALL** for your work then click **[here](https://youtu.be/0pnFg4igYuY)** and learn about posting on the HIVE blockchain. ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png) ![TalesLogo.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23tbkz42cJ8HwULaL9SPMgb78qc5GL7ZBfC4nrsp2sk8ytmsQa4NJAhupa8zpu19gUgZ1.JPG) All my 'Tales' content is easy to find on my personal website: ['Tales of the Urban Explorer'](talesoftheurbanexplorer.com) ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png) ![CurieCurator.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/f5zec6UG-CurieCurator.jpg) ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png)

![Drooling Maniac.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNfnfWNzzjZDZ7b1PukhSHLgL5g55apzyDpT4Jp7dP2CH/Drooling%20Maniac.JPG)

If you found this article so invigorating that you are now a positively googly-eyed, drooling lunatic with dripping saliva or even if you liked it just a bit, then please upvote, comment, rehive, engage me or all of these things.

[//]:# (!pinmapple 53.04378 lat -2.21267 long Tales of the Urban Explorer: Aladdin's Cave d3scr)