Normally the past weekend would have included a busy Spring Market in the the city centre on Friday and Saturday, with not only the square but also the streets nearby full of market stalls. This year (because of the corona-related restrictions), only like half a dozen local stallholders had been invited; and with the stalls well spread out so as not to cause crowding. I did go into town on Friday morning to have a look - mostly just out of curiosity, and prepared to just turn around if it should be crowded anyway. As you can see, though, there was no real danger of that...
I did go up to that white tent in the second photo to have a closer peek. They were selling hand-made leather bags/purses and wallets. Nice, but not quite my style - so I did not buy any. (I need mine to be a certain size and with lots of pockets to be practical...)
Outside my usual florist's shop I found something I liked, though. Among all the other plants to choose from, they had also prepared some ready-to-go bags with three plants that would fit nicely in a standard balcony-box. I found this a really creative idea, especially just now, to avoid crowds and queuing. I fell for this one at once, with pink geraniums + white lavender. (I knew I wanted geraniums but probably would not have thought of the lavender myself.) Easy quick purchase, just grabbing the bag and paying by card (there was also no queue just then).
8 comments:
OH, it is just lovely! I would have bought it too! Reading the paper this morning, I came across an article about how cash money is going to be a thing of the past, partly because of all the germs it carries. China ultraviolets any cash that exchanges hands, then quarantines it for a week. Anyway, the mentioned a handful of countries that were hardly using any cash now, and one country was Sweden.
The idea of those ready to grab bags at the flower shop is great! If I had a balcony or garden, I'd definitely buy one or two.
The heavily reduced spring market looks sad, and I wonder whether it would not have been better to cancel it altogether; I can not imagine the handful of stalls making enough business to cover their costs of renting the space and manning the stall all day.
So far, until the autumn all of my home town's events have been cancelled. What will happen about the Christmas Market remains to be seen. After all, it is a mere 7 months until Christmas Day!
Those flowers really stand out. We've had market days and stalls out here too, I think there is like a 100 person limit outdoors but people seem to be getting back into it.
what a super idea! all ready to go, that is a shopping trick they need to keep doing. it loosk perfect in your box... that would make a great gift, already in a bag. lots of new ideas coming out of our chaos... that first photo is awesome, the perspective of it fascinates me
Ginny, yes, cash was pretty much on its way "out" even before the corona situation - and I guess even more so now! I used to still pay cash in my local convenience store(and sometimes other minor purchases) - but now I pay by card there too. I still keep/carry some cash in case of emergency, though - like if the card machines don't work.
Meike, I think the City and local merchants as well as many individuals are doing what they can to keep things going - without breaking the restrictions (no gatherings of more than 50 people + keeping distance). I suspect that this year, perhaps the few invited stallholders did not have to pay any rent. (I don't know about that, just guessing.) According to the local newspaper, they were also trying out a special market deal involving the possibility for people at home in quarantine to order online or by phone, and have the items delivered by a car belonging to the city. (I never checked out the website for details as I was not all that keen to buy anything, but more interested in having a goal for my walk!)
Amy, we still have a 50 persons limit here and it sounds like that's going to last for a while yet.
Thanks Sandra. The first photo was taken with my phone, the others with my camera, I think. And yes, I agree - sometimes good ideas are born out of a crisis!
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