Porte de Vanvres Marche de Puce

Paris antique flea market!  A dream come true for this collector!  Stall after stall of funky characters peddling their wares - I am in heaven!   Now picture me floating slooooowly along, mining for treasures in baskets of old lace, linens, ribbon, buttons, beads, silverware, clock faces, vintage photographs, antique postcards, and general ephemera.  Now picture Charlene darting ahead and then marching back to see "what in hell" is holding me up.  She had already made her three purchases, a black velvet hat, an antique glass German mustard jar, and two lace collars, in the first 15 minutes.  I could have stayed all day! Where is the appeal, some might wonder. . .I guess it began those summers I spent in Ashland helping out in my Grandma Flint's antique shop, unpacking barrels of antiques sent from Wisconsin by her buyer/friend and listening to my grandma appreciate the beauty and value of each piece.  This fascination and joy of discovery is always with me waiting for the next opportunity to sweep me away.  The sheer size of this market and the quality and charm of the offerings were a feast.  It wasn't a matter of finding that one special item, but more a matter of choosing from among so many!  I ended up buying two small paintings, some beads, a lovely old silver tea strainer, and an assortment of postcards, labels, sketches, and other paper treasures.  This day will remain among my best travel memories of all time. . .