Prague can spoil tourist's journeys by being so darn beautiful; nothing else quite measures up aesthetically as you careen across Europe. But, like any place, it has its warts. We sought out an infamous 50,000 sq meter flea market last weekend, hopping on the yellow line at Karlovo Namesti and getting off at Kolbenova - in a very decayed industrial area. All rusty edges and crumbling cement and layers of grime. Gritty was an understatement - but it did hold a delightful cache of bargains.
The place was bustling - with both buyers and sellers - but it started to empty around noon even though it's advertised as being open until 2 p.m.; apparently you have to get there at 7 a.m. for fresh pickings. Hot items seemed to be oriental rugs and luggage.
Some sellers had proper booths set up, and others just paid to drive their cars in, lay down blankets and plunk their treasures right on top.
Some of the offerings we saw:
-Mountains of shoes for 50kc ($2.50) a pair - if you could find a matching pair
-A guy selling 5 accordians
-Lots of old bulk food, like huge cans of green olives and boxes of chocolate wafers
-Great, cheap art. Loads of paintings for 300kc ($15) and less
-Communist hat pins and buttons
-A table of pickaxes, hatchets and laundry detergent
And, as much as I like bargains and a bit of grit, it was nice when the tram pulled into our neighborhood. I should've bought a painting to bring with us, though. Next time.
Linking up with Pack Me To, Chasing the Donkey, A Southern Gypsy, The Fairytale Traveler and Ice Cream & Permafrost!
Both BW and I love junk shops and antique markets, so we figured a trip to the Kolbenova flea market would be a win. In particular, I was on the lookout for set pieces for our Fall school play. It was 20kc to enter.
The place was bustling - with both buyers and sellers - but it started to empty around noon even though it's advertised as being open until 2 p.m.; apparently you have to get there at 7 a.m. for fresh pickings. Hot items seemed to be oriental rugs and luggage.
Some sellers had proper booths set up, and others just paid to drive their cars in, lay down blankets and plunk their treasures right on top.
Some of the offerings we saw:
-Mountains of shoes for 50kc ($2.50) a pair - if you could find a matching pair
-A guy selling 5 accordians
-Lots of old bulk food, like huge cans of green olives and boxes of chocolate wafers
-Great, cheap art. Loads of paintings for 300kc ($15) and less
-Communist hat pins and buttons
-A table of pickaxes, hatchets and laundry detergent
There were a lot of treasures, but also a fair amount of filth strewn about and some moth-eaten people. In fact, a huge sign at the entrance advises you to watch your valuables and has pictures posted with the Czech word for "thieves" above them. Nonetheless, I'd stow away your coins and check the place out.
If you go, the address is Kolbenova 9a in Prague 9. It's open Saturdays and Sundays from 7a.m. to 2p.m. - but go early. Bring cash (no credit cards accepted) and a 20kc coin to get through the turnstyles.
You can get there by metro as we did on our "to" journey, but going "fro" we hopped on the number 16 tram and got a neat view over the train and tram tracks through that part of the city.
And, as much as I like bargains and a bit of grit, it was nice when the tram pulled into our neighborhood. I should've bought a painting to bring with us, though. Next time.
