"One of the best flea markets in Europe, this Vienna institution should not be missed. It’s tacked onto the southwestern end of the Naschmarkt on Saturdays, and half of Vienna seems to converge here, either flogging or pawing through tonnes of antiques, Altwaren (old wares) and just plain junk. It stretches for several blocks of stands hawking books, clothes, records, ancient electrical goods, old postcards, ornaments, carpets…you name it. It’s very atmospheric – more like the markets of Eastern Europe – with goods piled up in apparent chaos on the walkway. Try to get there early, as it gets more and more crammed as the morning wears on. Stallholders know the value of their goods (and the fact that this is a tourist attraction), so they’ll quote high. Haggle!" Lonely Planet
You might wonder how I could have left that painting in the lower middle behind? I can tell you, it is because I had no way to get the thing back to the US. I did consider it.
That's the problem with Flea Market shopping (and yes, Floh is a direct translation for "flea"): one suddenly desires to possess all the junk. As someone in the midst of assiduously de-junk-a-fy my life, I am delighted to look back on these photos and remember that I didn't buy a single thing. Yeah, me!
I will not lie, though, there is some really cool non-junky junk at this particular market. A friend of mine gave me these as a going away present when we left. Exactly what they are, I am not sure, although I think they are glass plates photos, from Salzburg. Whatever, they are beautiful, and a terrific memory of a lovely city and some great friends.
However, back to the junk. The time we were most likely to visit the Flohmarkt was around 5:30pm, which was about when it was shutting down. This was because the Flohmarkt was right around the corner from our favorite Thai restaurant. We'd have to walk through just when the vendors were dropping their wares and fleeing, assuming they were not in the mood to shift their precious antiques around one more time. The prices get lower, the negotiators more flexible, and the garbage pickers stand by the ready. Because when it's over, there is a lot that gets left behind.
And that was the thing I really wanted you to see: what happens when it's all over. Like a Diesel Ballet, the Clean-up Crews move in. We saw this week after week (on those, ahem, *rare* occasions we'd head to the Thai restaurant for a Saturday evening dinner).
First the plows move in and shift the junk into piles. Ja, Wien ist cool.
Then the claw would pick up the piles and put it in the dumpsters.
And finally, the street sweepers would do a final dust off to make sure the glass and broken bits were all washed away. Voilà! The Flohmarkt is back to its original, tidy parking lot self. There is something to be said about this sort of neat and tidy mentality.
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