PARIS MARCHÉ BUYS

I was in Paris for the Emily Dickinson Conference and, of course had to go shopping, most especially to a marché. We went to the one at Porte de Vanves and it was large and pretty expensive. We wandered for ages (we arrived late) and the vendors were packing up by the time I bought anything. My purchases:

A blue lidded Japanese pot for €10

Clearer view of the pattern on the pot in this pic
(lid propped against Buddha)

The orange faceted vase is from Maisons du Monde, and cost 39c in their sale.
Love that shop!

A pendant with turquoise and opalites, by Miracle, for €15

An enameled brooch by Breteaudeau, Paris for €5

And here are some market scenes:

Busker

Snowdrop cup and saucer for my birth month

Clown twins

Two of my darlings, strolling the marché

Beautiful Buddhas

Aw!

VIENNA FINDS

I am just back from a short story conference in Vienna. It's a posh, upmarket city but I managed a trip to the Saturday flea market and to Humana, a secondhand shop on Alserstrasse, near our lovely airbnb apartment. My purchases were modest, but lovely:

My €4 plastic-nobbled, vintage evening bag,
which I used at our reading night at the Irish Embassy

The Saturday flea at Naschmarkt, Vienna

BEFORE: Last year in Spain I bought a silver ID bracelet for €5
at a market. I got this one 'Albert' at Vienna's flea, also €5

AFTER: 'Albert' after I had given him a rub with a silver cloth.
I dipped him since home and he's even nicer now :)

And though she is not vintage, I bought this little Swarovski lady in a department store. You can't go to Austria and leave without Swarovski. Her name is Vinnie and she is bringing me luck already :)

FEIRA DA LADRA - LISBON

One tiny corner of the Feira da Ladra, Lisbon

A recent trip to Lisbon took me up into the beautiful and crumbling Alfama district to the Thieves' Market - Feira da Ladra. The market is vast - hundreds of people gather to sell trinkets, clothes, rubbish, antiques and collectibles from cloths on the ground and from stalls. It takes hours to get around and there are bargains galore.

This is my personal haul:

Paperweight (€5), Buddha (€3), two tiny ceramic figures (€1)

I also got this silverplated WMF art deco ashtray for €1. The figa (pendant) on it is a Brazilian good luck charm which I had tried to get in Brazil in August and failed. Very happy to find one in Lisbon which my husband bought for me - aw!

WMF marking on back of ashtray

My daughter (age 3) bought a china Snow White doll for €2 at the market and a cute red handbag for the same price. My husband bought me a Christmas present so I have yet to see what it is. All in all, a fun and successful trawl. I have one regret: I didn't buy three tiny ceramic mermaids I saw. I had shopper confusion/fatigue by then. Bummer :(

Lisbon is a great shopping city. The main stores are reasonably priced (compared to Ireland) and they have some interiors gems such as Area. I drooled my way around this shop - would love to go back. I will, no doubt.