Marché aux puces

Perfect walking weather for our Sunday...took the metro to Porte de Clignancourt for a wander through the marché aux puces (flea market) at St-Ouen.  The market is a wonderful maze of outdoor alleys and indoor spaces, home to stalls that are hidden behind roller doors during the week, but which reveal their trove of goodies every Saturday to Monday.  Lace, buttons and vintage clothing, glassware, crockery and silverware, old postcards, medals, toys, furniture - from the fully restored to the "as is"...oh, and secondhand vinyl!

Found two postcards from the early 1900s:  one depicting the entrance to Place des Vosges which welcomes us every morning as we step onto the street outside the apartment; and one depicting a stretch of rue Saint-Antoine that we walk each day.  Many of the doorways and features on the buildings are recognisable today in rue Saint-Antoine, and Place des Vosges has changed so little, the postcard could almost be a photo I took.

The market is also a joy for people and pooch watching...a community of like-minded souls.  I love the way they gather for lunch, pulling together mismatched furniture pieces that are otherwise for sale - a gilt trimmed 19th century armchair, an industrial wooden bench, a 1920s stool and an etched metal outdoor table.  The table is laid with baguette, cold meats, cheese, wine...and coffee in paper espresso cups from a nearby bistro...la belle vie!