1. Paris’ most famous flea market, also known as the Marché aux Puces, attracts some not-so-flea-ridden four-legged visitors as well.
2. Personally, my favorite part of the market is where you can find cheaper goods, ranging from these grapevine wine openers to enameled pitchers and coffeepots to one of my favorite finds: a leather-bound hardcover edition of Victor Hugo’s Feuilles d’automne.
3. That said, a lot of people with far deeper pockets than I have go to the market for antiques. While I didn’t buy anything here, I did chat with a man with an exquisite mustache whose father was from Georgia and who therefore had one of the most intriguing accents I’ve ever heard.
4. Fans of old-school Americana will get a kick out of some of the objects on sale, from vintage vending machines to American flags sporting only 48 stars.
5. The market is just a quick walk from the Porte de Clignancourt métro stop. It’s opened Saturday-Monday, and when you’ve had your fill of shopping, you can always grab a drink at the nearby REcyclerie. Maybe I’ll see you there on my next visit!