EXPENSIVE FLEAS

I went to the very famous flea market today at Porte de Clignancourt; for the size of it, it should be called a flea city!

The clothing of course, was mostly crap, I didn't expect otherwise, but there were a couple of stores with the skirt/pants that I wanted (the ones with the crotch on the floor) but they were 50 euros, and I can't buy unnecessary clothing for $75 right now, I'd rather buy a book.

The section of the flea city that I fell in love with, which I didn't expect at all, was the antique section. I never even knew that I had an weakness for antiques and I wanted everything in every store! fortunately, I'm poor enough that I don't even have the price of any one object in my french bank account, so I couldn't commit any rash acts of acquisition.

Newly roused desires aside, I could write a novel on those; I've been searching for the perfect cardholder and chainmaille purse since I was in NY, and today, I saw THE purse of my dreams: hallmarked-sterling 945-ruby clasps-fine maille-ornate frame-perfect in every aspect except the price tag: 950 euros. I went back to the store 4 times! the proprietress was nice enough to take it out of the case and let me examine the hallmark with a loupe even though I wasn't going to come home with it. I took a picture of it on my cellphone. I also came across quite a few cigarette holders that I wanted to use as a cardholder. They ranged from 200-500 euros. yea my budget for a cardholder is 10% that.

I wish I were an antique dealer, then I could buy all these things without feeling guilty.