A long standing tradition in my town is the Spring Market, which takes place on the Friday and Saturday after Ascension Day. A good time for it, as children are then off school, and quite a lot of grown-ups too take the opportunity to get an extra day off work if they can.
It was an overcast day, but not raining, so I went for a stroll downtown to practice some "street photography"...
This man wearing a sunflower hat stood out a bit among all the more common kinds of market stuff! He was selling sunflowers made out of concrete! (No, I did not buy one.)
There always seems to be innumerable stalls selling balloons.
The table tennis table and chess game aren't part of the market as such, but probably there for the duration of the summer - to liven up the square a bit even on less crowded days.
For my own part, when it came to actually buying something, there was only one market stall that I was looking for - and I found it in the same place as usual. Time to stock up on stockings! - or rather, some summer socks...
There used to be one other stall that I always visited (and bought something from) but they seem to have given up now, as I haven't seen them around on the last two or three markets. They used to sell cheap postcards and birthday cards (and in the autumn, Christmas cards). But I suppose with the outrageous cost of stamps these days, people also tend to buy less cards... (I've cut down a lot on Postcrossing myself in the last couple of years. So maybe just as well I was not tempted to buy more cards. I do still have quite a good supply left at home...) It was always a fun market stall to visit, though!
At one end of the square they had gathered the food trucks, and added a few pick-nick tables where people could sit down for a while. (Good idea. I was not tempted, though.)
Walked back home through the city park to check on the huge rhododendrons there - but found that those are not yet in full bloom.
Linking to Weekend Street/Reflections (#227)
I can't imagine concrete sunflowers! It looked like a lovely day for a wander and photography.
ReplyDeleteJanice, it turned out a better day for it than I had hoped for, as forecasts had threatened with rain.
DeleteI would love to transport myself to your market and walk with you. I could snap myself silly with all the photography fodder. concrete sunflowers? well, I never. ha ha My favorite is the girls with long hair.
ReplyDeleteSandra, it was just the right kind of crowded to practice street photography :)
DeleteThis is so neat and what a wonderful idea. I see several things in the photos that drew interest for me. Glad the weather was good for this event.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shug. I rarely buy much at these markets but I've found those socks to be good quality.
DeleteThe socks stall would have been interesting for me, too. My socks tend to get holes at the same spots all the time, and since I don't know (and am not inclined to learn) how to darn, I rather buy a new pair when the "hole-y" ones aren't wearable any longer.
ReplyDeletePS: I know Denmark have ended their "snail mail" service recently, and I wonder how people get their correspondence from insurances, agencies, energy providers and so on - some people don't have, can't or don't want to use email or other digital means of communication.
DeleteI wonder whether other countries will follow.
Meike, I'm wondering, too. Here in Sweden, since a few years now, we only get mail delivered 2-3 times per week. But so far we've been ensured that they don't intend to follow Denmark's example and stop deliveries of letters altogether. I won't be too surprised if some day that happens, though. I'm already feeling that it's becoming rather a mess to remember which bills are still sent by regular post, or by email, or sent to my bank account but still needing manual confirmation, or are paid by some form of direct debit that I have pre-approved!
DeleteMmm, I remember I could do with some new socks too.
ReplyDeleteHope you find some good ones, Jenny :)
DeleteWe don't have this kind of market anywhere that I know of. How I would LOVE to go to one!!!! The sock stand has some really cute ones. Concrete sunflowers! Well, they sure won't get blown over by the wind!!
ReplyDeleteGinny, having seen all your photos of garden decorations around your neighbourhood, I think some concrete sunflowers would probably fit in well! :)
DeleteLots to see there, so many colours, I love the man who is wearing a yellow sunflower on his head.
ReplyDeleteAmy, he certainly did not hesitate to draw attention to himself! :)
DeleteIt sounds like your Spring Market stroll was a nice mix of tradition, people-watching, and just the right touch of nostalgia
ReplyDeleteGood summary, Ro! :)
Delete