Paris News: Brocante Season

Spring is the season for spring cleaning.
It's also the season for brocante and flea markets.

In Japan, the big cleaning is done in December, which marks the turning point of the year, but in France it is done in the spring.
The reason is that the windows that were closed during the winter were opened wide,
Because it's the perfect season to give your entire home a thorough clean.

The junk and unnecessary items that came out after the general cleaning are
I'd like to sell it cheaply and get rid of it.
Polish the windows and let the long-awaited sunshine into your home.
So, spring is Brocante,
It's also Vide-Grenier (attic-emptying, i.e. flea market) season.

On spring weekends, if you walk around Paris you are sure to come across a flea market somewhere, as there are flea markets held all over the city.
It's a great activity for an unplanned weekend.

This time, I'll show you a flea market that was held in my neighborhood.
It's quite different from the flea market scenes you see in magazines,
See how ordinary people in Paris live.

First, let's start with Reuilly-Diderot in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
Lluy Diderot flea market.



Using a small space on a street corner,
It's a small flea market.
There were no professional stands like those you see at flea markets.
Most of the items in the store made me wonder, "Who would actually buy these things?"

That's fine too.
You might find a bargain.

A cabinet with a marble table,
I asked a man selling a solid wood chest how much it cost, and he told me it was 35 euros. It's cheap, and a repaint or de-varnishing would give it a much more modern look.
You can also store it inside,
I wondered for a moment what it would be like to put it on a balcony...
At this low price,
You can leave it outside without any worries.

Next up,
Wattignies Flea Market.



It really feels like a big clearance spree of unnecessary items that came out during the spring cleaning.
It was an explosion of common man power, and I was amazed at the display, which even made use of a construction site fence.

Get some unexpected bargains here!
A glass jug costs 2 euros.
I was having trouble finding a vase at home, so this seems perfect.



I'm using it right away like this:
We also used a variety of other bottles.

Incidentally, the white painted rattan mirror is also second-hand and was purchased from a charity shop called Emmaus.
Emmaus are found all over France.
They also take away unwanted items from your home.
I also sent a lot of children's clothes, toys, picture books, etc. to Emmaus.

Emmaus
https://emmaus-france.org



Arrange waxflowers in a jar in which you grow alfalfa.

The bottle next to it is a non-alcoholic gin that has been all the rage lately.
In Europe,
I want to enjoy an aperitif with a non-alcoholic drink.
There is a growing demand for these bottles, and many different types are available. This bottle could also be used as a vase for a single flower later.



Speaking of vases, I've recently been able to buy flowers at my local grocery store, Champs Libres.
Locally produced vegetables, fruits, cheese, etc. delivered directly from producers.
It's nice to have flowers among them.
Flowers are also important for the biodiversity of the fields.

Champs Libre
https://www.champslibresmagasin.com



Finally, here are some photos of brocantes in the Marais district.
As expected, the stand at the brocante in the Marais is stylish.
The quality is also completely different.
Naturally, the price will be higher, but if you are shopping for a specific purpose and want to find something good, it would be wise to choose a place like this from the start.

A large-scale disposal flea market for household items.
It's perfect for a weekend stroll.
Apparently the trick to brocante and flea markets is to "not go with a specific purpose in mind."

Until next time,
Avianto!