You know you are a serious shopper when you are willing to leave your hotel at 5:30 AM and drive for two hours to the Leipzig flea market.
The Leipzig, Germany flea market is has earned a reputation as the Europe’s largest with up to 5,000 vendors when filled to capacity. Our little tour group braved chilly drizzle as we trouped up and down rows of outdoor vendors seeking unique Christmas treasures that caught our fancy. We had barely begun when I spotted the hunch-backed Santa in a brown mohair coat. He is German and from the 1890 – 1910 era. He will need a bit of repair but he’s going to be an outstanding addition to my collection. He is a real treasure!
Beside all of the outdoor dealers, Leipzig boasts two huge vendor halls inside. We ventured inside when the drizzle turned into a steadier rain for awhile. License plates identified exhibitors from the Czech Republic, Poland and other European nations. As with any flea market, one person’s treasure is another one’s junk! Of course, we saw much that was of little interest, but it was good to be able to walk right by. We walked and walked from 7:30 AM until noon with one bathroom break and a brief snack time. I certainly logged plenty of steps!
For an avid antiquer, this was a dream scenario. We passed up many things and narrowed our purchases to things that were treasures or super deals. And, bargaining was like a comedy act! As you can well, we will be coming home with Christmas treasures and colorful memories.
To find out more about Leipzig’s monthly flea market, visit these sites:
http://www.thisisleipzig.com/leipzig%20markets.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187400-d242067-r125946193-Agra_Park-Leipzig_Saxony.html
