SWAP MEETS AND FLEA MARKETS
Tents improvised with fabrics, vans unloading stuff, thumping boxes from the tailgate of the trucks to the tables, loud music, and people everywhere eating and yelling. There is a woman with a red dress in high heels, every man looking at her, hundreds of people around you, babies crying, improvised tents selling all kinds of food, but nothing like the smell of Juanita’s enchiladas, rolling out tortillas by hand. The chicken enchilada is delicious, the chicken is moist and tender, and the hot chili sauce, which must have five ingredients in it, has incredible depth of flavor, the cheese melting with the heat, mmm. The cafe gets crowded all the time.
Swap meets or flea markets feature second hand items and discontinued goods. They are special places that give buyers the same expectation: saving money. What I AM looking for and am sure to find are T-shirts. This place is a gold mine for that; all sorts of different colors, every size imaginable and cheap prices.
Flea markets on the West Coast are very popular. The Rose Bowl Flea Market is held on the second Sunday of every month. It’s considered the “largest of its kind”, with more than 2500 vendors. It even charges different levels of admission prices: $8“regular admission”, $10 ”express admission” before 9am, and $20 “VIP admission” before 7 am.
There isn’t anything that they don’t have. Go ahead, think of something and I am pretty sure you will find it: gold fish, fake plants, music, hair care products, furniture, CD’s, games, movies, clothes, shoes, lamps, office supplies, kitchen accessories, cosmetics, antiques and collectibles, books, woodcrafts, restaurants and much, much more. Everyone I come in contact with, like other shoppers, is friendly and courteous; people like me are there to shop. It’s chaos, but I say to myself, “nothing will interfere with my shopping day”. One of my favorite places sells hair care products. When I first walk in, I smell the exquisite fragrances, sports, flowery, all in different bottles and containers with their fantastic names and labels.
You can, of course, always find your knockoff Nike, Adidas, Converse and Vans shoes. Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, and D&G knockoffs are common as well. There is no customer service whatsoever (they do not need it, I suppose). Cash is your bargaining power; the more cash you carry the better bargaining power you have. Need $2 hair grease? How about a $15 flat iron? Nike in an assortment of colors, spandex tops or bottoms, belts, coats, you name it and this place sells the imitation. Vendors sell scarves for a dollar, tennis shoes for $10.
The flea market turns out to be a great experience and I will definitely be going back. At the flea market you come into contact with all walks of life. Understanding differences in cultures helps to blend in. It is not just the price that attracts shoppers to swap meets; there is also the comfort level. Unlike the stuffy department stores, a swap meet has a welcoming attitude. The people are friendly and they don’t care about your social status or background; it is just business and having fun. There is no dress code or social status; you simply come as you are and look for a good time. You can enjoy a weekend of shopping and travel with free parking and the indoor markets are protected from the weather, so you don’t have to be worried about that.
The Rose Bowl Flea Market is well worth a visit, but come prepared to haggle and be at least reasonably sure that you know what you want and how much it is worth.
Well done, Nora!
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