Social icons

French Flea Markets (Part II): A Social Affair

10.16.2012

So French vide-greniers aren't just about a village's annual purging of (common household but often very beautiful) unwanted wares and collectibles, creating a buying and selling bonanza where almost anything can be bought and sold,... no. Like every good market, the atmosphere is also filled with tasty food and rekindled friendships. Stands in the middle of parking lots are set up like zinc bars, where you can step up to the counter and request un café or an Orangina, for example. Cotton candy machines are strewn about advertising the sinewy pink gold in bold letters: Barbe à Papa! Tables are loaded with batter and jams serving up warm Nutella crêpes. And last summer, my husband's family friends (who rented a table for about 10 euros to sell their children's old toys), served up chips and Kir (crème de cassis with white wine) for a surprisingly early aperitif cocktail - it was around 9:30am when we showed up!

At the end of the day shoppers and vendors alike, along with their bundle of new treasures and a bit of extra cash, reacquaint themselves with old friends, share a drink and some laughs - which maybe what some were actually seeking after all...

7 comments

  1. I bet your husbands friends had some great toys to sell. It would be fun to put something like this together in my neighborhood. I love the idea with the food, wine, coffee, and I'm quite positive that the kids love the cotton candy! Of course, I am yearning for those fresh and warm Nutella crepes. That image you've taken... sigh... I want to go back to Paris and walk along the Seine and eat warm crepes...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That warm crepe was everything & more! Charmaine, maybe we need to do a girls trip and visit Catherine! These flea markets are calling our names! :)

      Catherine, you described the essence of the flea markets perfectly. I felt like I was right there with you! And I am constantly impressed with your photographs - you capture the life in every photo! LOVE!

      xo,
      j.

      Delete
    2. Yes! When should we buy our tickets, Jamie? :)

      Delete
    3. Since I am always on the look-out for my next great adventure, I will keep an eye out for some deals and keep you posted, friend!

      Catherine, you may have visitors next year! :)

      Delete
    4. Ladies, we'll have to go together one day! - and I don't mean just one, but market hopping across all of France ;) I can just imagine how much fun we'd have!! And something tells me it'll take an entire barge to carry all our treasures back to the States, wouldn't that be a sight! ... in the meantime, I'll go cross country and we can meet up at the vide grenier Charmaine's putting together in her neighborhood ;) Seems you lovely ladies make some pretty amazing appetizers to go with it!

      Delete
  2. I'd definitely go just to partake of the amazing atmosphere! How lucky you get to experience this, it's like the collectible treasures are just icing on an already-delectable cake (amazing icing though:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well Lulu, you know there seems to be a trip being planned (see above) that you absolutely must join!! ;)

      Delete

Hello + Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment...

La Mémoire Vive © 2016 Catherine Goron. Powered by Blogger.