Yesterday, I got knocked over the head, with what a white bread neighborhood we live in. The family’s Saturday excursion was to the Puce St. Ouen - the biggest flea market in Paris, with over 2000 stalls.
Upon arrival to the market, our unplanned route, started us off, through the typical flea market crap (the gauntlet), then somehow popped us into lanes with permanent antique stalls. The experience was completely bizarre! One minute you are walking through a JAMMED packed, very mixed crowd, with Rap music BLARING. The vendors here were selling everything from cheap t-shirts, to used unmatched shoes, to leather jackets, to old books, to African art & funky clothes. One review I read, described this part of the market, as the underbelly of Paris. A large exaggeration in my opinion, but it was definitely not the crowd from the Louvre. Then, you literally turn a corner, and you walking through quiet cobblestone paths, with ivy covered walls and dealers selling fine antiques. The contrast was sharp beyond words and made me wonder, did all of the genteel antiquers, buying Louis XIV chaises, walk through the same craziness that we just did?
We bought nothing, but can’t wait to go back and enjoy more Parisian diversity.
Upon arrival to the market, our unplanned route, started us off, through the typical flea market crap (the gauntlet), then somehow popped us into lanes with permanent antique stalls. The experience was completely bizarre! One minute you are walking through a JAMMED packed, very mixed crowd, with Rap music BLARING. The vendors here were selling everything from cheap t-shirts, to used unmatched shoes, to leather jackets, to old books, to African art & funky clothes. One review I read, described this part of the market, as the underbelly of Paris. A large exaggeration in my opinion, but it was definitely not the crowd from the Louvre. Then, you literally turn a corner, and you walking through quiet cobblestone paths, with ivy covered walls and dealers selling fine antiques. The contrast was sharp beyond words and made me wonder, did all of the genteel antiquers, buying Louis XIV chaises, walk through the same craziness that we just did?
We bought nothing, but can’t wait to go back and enjoy more Parisian diversity.
3 comments:
Finally figures it out!! Love the blog. Makes you seem closer as we can easily "picture" what happening in your lives. All well here, love Mum/mark et al.
And the "holiday" continues. Can't wait to hear what you get knocked over the head with next! Perhaps the fact that you live in France. btw is that a fox? Blogs are great.
ps ...we want more pics with Jo in them ;-)
More blogs please!
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