I love going to markets, flea markets and charity shops (called thrift stores in the US). Visiting places such these, you get an idea of how wealthy we are. People get rid in a larger part of new or slightly new objects and you get them for peanuts. I often buy clothes as well. In this way, you are contributing to the environment. When buying from a charity shop you’re helping other people or animals who need food and care. These places are educational. There are materials you can also find in anthropological museums, such as video recorders, handwritten music cassettes, kitchen tools, old stamps and postal cards, old toys…I strongly believe they should be promoted more for cultural and social events, especially for the younger public.
In Malta, there are several charity shops spread all over the island. But if you want to see more curious items and treasuries there is a weekly flea market in the old village of Birgu (now called Vittoriosa) where I go in certain periods of the year. I avoid it after it rained because the pavement becomes muddy, and during the heat of August. This market is a mixture of secondhand items, antiques and knick-knacks and has placed every Sunday morning from early hours till not later than noon. Comparing to Ballaro’ (Palermo), Porta Portese (Rome) or other flea markets I have visited in the past years, this one is attended by few tourists. Visitors are mostly adult people, Maltese couples or singles but also foreign families living in Malta and British pensioners. Sellers are aged 50+. It looks like a neighbourhood garage sale. Few of these sellers keep items in order on a plaid. Some don’t even use it. In the same space, you can find fine decorated plates and mobile chargers, old home appliances and magazines. I like going there because I keep myself focused on it as visual exercise. Do you remember during childhood playing memory games? I feel to be more or less in that spirit.
They should be more promoted
for cultural and social events,
especially for the younger public.
I have found there my precious mannequin, where I take pictures of every necklace I make. Then a handmade sewing box made from the seller’s wife, two ebony elephant bookends, cute photo frame and letter mail holder for book lovers, two aboriginal Australian plates, Maltese exercise books, a colored terracotta vase, a colored tin and lately a bunch of metal chains and shells for jewelry. Some time ago I have also bought a like-new record player and some succulent plants. if you live in a tiny flat, browsing in markets like this it’s hard. I have been tempted on many occasions, so I always do my best to be selective and choose only useful and needed items.
Last visit to the Birgu Sunday market was a failure for me. I was looking for some jewellery to reuse, woollen yarns and a cute small box or container, possibly a wooden one but what all I found it was a new corkboard to pin my notes for 0.50 euro cent only. It went better on Saturday morning at a charity shop. There I got plenty of vintage buttons, a wicker basket to fill with pine cones I painted last year for Christmas and two glittered fabric flowers as decoration for the holiday season.
Have you ever been in such lovely places?
If your answer is “NO” I will give you
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