"A flea market is a place where you buy things that nobody needs, from people who don't have them, for money we didn't plan to spend."
Momo Kapor, Magic of Belgrade
I woke up very early yesterday morning, unusually for me on a weekend day, before the sun appeared on the horizon.
For this reason, I decided to respond to the invitation of one of my friends, and to join him in visiting the Flea Market on Bubanj Potok, the so-called "Belgrade Flea Market".
For as long as I can remember, the flea market on Bubanj potok, next to the highway, at the entrance to Belgrade, where the ring road branches off, has been open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Sunday is a day that decades ago was reserved for buying and selling cars (which has changed a lot in recent years, because online portals and ogas have taken over the primacy).
And Saturday is the day for a classic flea market.
On that day, all kinds of products and objects can be found at the flea market.
Various hand and battery tools, drills, grinders, pneumatic hammers...
Various car parts (new or used), car cosmetics, light bulbs, floor mats, wipers
used laptops, mobile phones, musical instruments, sound equipment, washing machines, bathroom and shower equipment, fishing accessories, aluminum rims and tires, lawn mowers
bicycles, beer glasses, toys, various HTZ and military equipment and clothing items and shoes, copies of sneakers of famous brands, copies of glasses
various perfumes, as well as household chemicals and some food products, mostly imported from Hungary.
And in addition to what I have listed, you can also find various second-hand items, collectibles, antiques, pictures, dishes, cameras, old furniture, old weapons, money...
A few decades ago, since 1990, when my country was under sanctions, this flea market and smuggled goods (chemicals and food) were crucial for us to survive those years.
Back then, we used to go to this place much more often, to buy necessities for life that we couldn't find in markets.
But today, although everything can be bought in the nearby market, I went with my friend to keep him company.
And I mostly like to look around and buy something, when I'm not burdened by the fact that I need something.
A friend needed to buy extra equipment for the car he bought a few days ago: a spare tire, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a set of light bulbs, a tow cable, and a set of keys, rubber floor mats and air fresheners.
And I was walking, looking at everything and anything.
We parked the car in a kind of parking lot (an unpaved field covered with macadam and dust), better here than as individual visitors, on the hill above the flea market.
We walked between the rows where the products were displayed, on the counters, on the hoods of the cars or on the floor.
I followed him on what he was buying, advised him on what he was looking at, searched on the internet which models were suitable for his car...
And when we were done with his shopping, I could relax and look around for the items that caught my eye.
I inquired about the prices of some things that interested me, such as this beautiful wooden table (350e), or this globe that is actually a drinking bar (200e), as well as these electric spits for roasting pigs or lambs (130e).
I'm almost certain that if I really wanted to buy this drinks cart, I would be able to haggle for a much lower price, which would also include this saber that was sitting on it.
In order not to return home empty-handed, I bought two packs of Dolce Gusto coffee, as well as one fabric softener. Both coffee and softener are over 30% cheaper than in supermarkets, so it is clear that the margins are quite high in supermarkets. With the lower price, I think I bought better quality products because it seems to me that products of dubious quality are sold in our country.
This way, at the flea market (supporting the gray economy), I pay cheaper for better quality products.
But what I bought, factory-packaged products that are not designed to be stored in refrigerators, are the only food I would buy there.
I wouldn't dare buy cheese that's been sitting in the sun or some sundaes and sausages. I would also avoid nuts that are sold by measure, as well as homemade cured meat products, and the only greens I would buy would be these tree saplings, not at all the lettuce I saw on one stall.
We were at the flea market until the vendors started packing up their stalls and the sun started to lower towards the horizon. We put the bags with all the little things we bought into the trunk and headed home.
Today was a great #weekend-experiences to share with you.
Next time I will take a closer look at the offered items, and haggle over how I bought one of them and thus completed my collection.
I'll be pinning the location of this flea market to #Worldmappin so that those #Hivecollectors who happen to be nearby can find it more easily (and look for items to fill their collections)
Though just follow the rush of cars, you can't miss it.
It's there every Saturday 馃檪
