this was fun, and in no way related to garage sailing

If I was a fantasy SciFi character, I would be...

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Star Parade

What I would've bought at the Idar-Oberstein op-shop if I hadn't had luggage allowance anxiety.






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anyone..? anyone..?

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Porta Portese

Ok, I think this is going to be a marathon post as Porta Portese is to markets what Coles is to the local milk bar. It's in Trastevere which is on the left bank of the Tiber river. The market starts on one long street and then diverges into a maze of tributary streets. To walk past every stall is probably a 5km journey. At the beginning there are lots of cheap Victoria market type stalls selling clothes, shoes, handbags, guns, etc.




And then the stalls selling cheap Indonesian jewellery start to appear, followed by the fake designer goods stalls. And this seems to go on for miles! And just as you start to think that there'll be no fodder for a garage sailor post, you come across this...



and you think, 'that looks a bit interesting'.

And then you see this...



and this...



and this...



here are a couple of close ups...





(ha!)






for when you're looking to add to your silverware collection.




or your collection of gilt baroque mirrors




or some replacement parts for your chandeliers.

There are also some antique furniture dealers - expensive antique furniture sitting in the hot sun!






Here's something I would've liked to have bought



Its a beautiful embroidered silk double bedspread, quite a few rips at the edges. 1000 euro. thats $1627.80! And it's sitting in direct sunlight. He's dreamin'

The market stalls are on either side of the road and the shoppers walk down the centre of the road. But behind the stalls, on the narrow footpaths, the gypsies set up their own alternative market. And it's here where you find the most interesting stuff. It's a true 'flea-market'



note: green sequined thongs.




this guy is selling medication. I wonder where he got that?




I have no idea what this guy was trying to sell from his trolley, I was too scared to get too close.

So this is what I ended up buying. It's not much but it was quite expensive and I'm getting scared about the cost of excess baggage.

A collection of Matryoshka's




I little wooden pineapple




and, my favourite, a plastic pineapple cooking timer.



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catching up

Ok. I'm in catch up mode (see Davernator. So, here are a few posts from the markets in Rome. On my first Sunday there we went to a flea market near the Piazza della Marina.




It was really an antique market rather than a flea market as it was very expensive. But I couldn't help myself and had to buy these old plastic brooches...



gorgeous!

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Paydirt!

I have lots to post, particularly about the markets in Rome but today I just have to share with you my delight at discovering the 'recycling centre' of Tallinn which is a bit like the tip shop in Rezza



I was taken there by my Aussie/Esto mate Ulvi and we had fun!



Here's a bit of what you missed out on...





yes, that's a chair on the ceiling!






for Florence






knitting bag




inside that was this...




And here's what I actually took home...



it's been said that a woman can never have too many red handbags.




What is it with Estonia and these picture trays? And why do I keep buying them?




anyone?... anyone?...




I think this one will go to the knitter but I know the knitter's sister won't like it!




this is a box of candles with these fantastic plastic candle holders...



I was going to send them to Liana but they're so gorgeous I think I'll have to keep some back for myself.




tin placemat




a strange rubber/plastic lamb. And all for the princely sum of....




$10.80

as I said, Paydirt!

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