Paris flea markets
Reason #612 why I need an apartment in Paris: so that I will have a place to put all the amazing and ridiculously cheap finds at Paris' several marchés aux puces (flea markets). I need space, par example, for that antique typewriter; that gloriously carved and upholstered chair; that ancient Turkish lantern; those three concertina cameras; that tarnished, silver tea set; and that sweet little watercolour by a little known artist from La Belle Époque.
However, finding myself somewhat wanting in the Parisian apartment department (give me time), I have had to make do with these small mementos.
* A beautiful, tall antique bottle * Another antique bottle, this one a heavenly dark blue * Four antique postcards (later, I'll try to translate the messages) * A lovely, rusty old key. I wonder what it once opened * Three unused antique postcards, to send to friends * A little book on French history * Antique Queen Elizabeth tin * A colourful woven basket (not pictured because it was too big)
And some other reasons why my bag was so heavy:
* A hand painted Christmas bauble from Paris * Little glass bird, found in Carcassonne * Reproduction of an ancient map of Venice * A fantastically trashy and touristy Rome mug * A Venetian mask (the girls bought us one each for my birthday party) * Two tiny vials of perfume from Grasse * A glass Christmas bauble from Murano, Venice (Santa driving a gondola) * Glass candy, also from Murano * Sweet little purse depicting Marie Antoinette fashion * A flipbook with a romantic Paris street scene * Flower stickers * Leftover stamps, since the kids didn't send as many postcards as expected * Three watercolours from an artist in Monmartre, and another two from Venice * Novels The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and The Lady and the Little Fox Fur, and children's picture book Paris Y Es Tu? (too big to be pictured) * A wonderful notebook with vibrant squares of Pantone colour * Piece of handmade Venetian lace * Shoulder bag from my favourite bookstore EVER, Shakespeare & Co (Paris)
