Marche au Puce

I've been pining for Paris lately. It's spring so this should come as no big surprise. If we'd continued our pattern, every other year (yes, twice is a pattern), then this spring I should be winging over to France. I actually had been planning on going to Paris this December, but my travel cohort decided to have another baby instead. That's a grandchild for me so I guess I can't complain.

Still, I can wander the web in search of a Paris or French fix. Just like I wandered the Marche au Puce, one of Paris' many large flea markets, on our last visit.

We didn't go the "big one" which... can't remember which one that was. On recommendation of a friend, we went to the one near Porte de Vanves, which she said was less commercialized, better bargains. Although it might not have been the largest, it still took us the entire morning to make our way through from end to end, not counting the time we spent trying to find it, one of the few times I got lost in Paris and I blame poorly given instructions.

I didn't take many photos as I asked first and some vendors didn't want to be photographed. I didn't ask if I was taking an overall street scene though. Mostly I just enjoyed the hunt, determined to find some small bits and bobs that would fit in our suitcases.



This lovely birdcage would NOT fit in my suitcase. Alas.




Buttons would fit in my suitcase. I brought a few home - wonder where I put them?







Now if I was furnishing a small Paris apartment, this is the type of stuff I'd be looking for. Love the chandelier, as well as the dusty mirror, hanging from the back of the van. I love the cart too but doubt I'd have room for it in Paris. And how would I get it home!? Wheel it onto the Metro? Maybe if I lived outside the city.




Lovely old marbles. I should have bought some. Oh well. Next time I'm there.




Another crowd scene.




Of course the books drew me in with their aged beauty. They were all in French so I wouldn't have been able to actually read them.




At one corner of the market this guy was playing a wheeled piano.




More books - I was really tempted by this lovely cover.




The merchant was disappointed I didn't want to take his photo, only a photo his books. So I took his photo. This was a common plea with French men, a fun banter I eventually came to expect. Ahhh madame, I am so sad, no one wants a picture of me. LOL.



I thought these models were cool, like giant pieces from a Battleship game.




So much to stop and sort through: old images, paintings, ceramics, knick knacks. I found a few tiny pieces including a set of tea spoons for a very good price. When I got them home I realized that they were probably not tea spoons after all, but salt spoons, as the "bowls" of the spoons are extra tiny. I still use them to stir my tea though. And if you take sugar, you just need to double up on your scoops, that's all.




I loved these colorful artsy chairs.




All good shopping trips must eventually come to an end. When the vendors started packing things up and Hubby was delirious with hunger, it was time for le dejeuner.