Paris Flea Markets

The countdown is on. Admittedly it is a long way off, but come this November 2013 Monty&Me(along with thousands of other locals and tourists) will be strolling through the Paris flea markets in search of that irresistible gem. Earlier this year I uploaded the Keys to the Fleas app onto my iPhone. You can find this flea market information on the net but it is handy to have it stored on your iPhone especially when you are out-and-about in Paris and want to explore different flea markets, check out their locations and confirm open times.

When it comes to markets in Paris there are several good options. My very first trip to Paris was with my parents when I was 17. I have been fortunate to return on a number of occasions since then, each time targeting the markets has been a must. If your time is limited (it is not physically possible  to visit every market as they require and deserve more than just a 30 minutes look-see) first decide on the type of market you want to visit. For example: Do you prefer fresh food markets or trawling through the antiques? Then check location and times open. This will save you running around in circles and chewing up precious, valuable time.

If you have time to do a little research before you go, I've found these links very handy:

parisperfect.com/paris-flea-markets
timeout.fr/paris
guardian.co.uk/travel/bloggoparis
discoverfrance.net
goparis.about.com
tripadvisor.com.au
frommers.com.

Happy market browsing...hope you find something truly wonderful.

Images:
Top image: the iPad app as it appears on my phone
Image below: Claudia Strasser (creator of Keys to the Fleas) as it appears on her website psprive.com

Gold Coast HK

Welcome back. It's been a while. It was about a year or so ago that we decided to take a holiday to New York City. One of my wish list destinations. We chose to go via Hong Kong as Man of the Manor had business colleagues living in Central (located on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula). Following our thankfully uneventful flight from Australia to Hong Kong we settled into our hotel, the Novotel. No nasty surprises. It was comfortable and well located. Beaming from cheek to cheek, the Man and I bravely stepped out into the bustle of Hong Kong's Nathan Road (the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, Hong Kong that goes in a south-north direction from Tsim Sha Tsui to Mong Kok.) We had walked only a few metres down the road when we were pounced on by a bubbly young Chinese student, questionnaire in hand. Before we knew it she had us seated in a shuttle bus on our way to the Gold Coast. Seriously? A native Queenslander, I was surprised at such a notion. But yes, there is a Gold Coast in Hong Kong. On our arrival we endured a one hour sales spiel on buying into Absolute Vacations - a time-share holiday abroad concept. Avoid at all costs! We left Nathan Road at 10.30am and didn't return until 2.30pm. (25 mins by taxi each way) Such a waste of our first day in shopping heaven. The upside was winning 7 nights at a resort in Phuket or Costa Del Sol. But you still have to find the airfare to get to these apartments which were located in out-of-the-way places. Needless to say I have no idea where I put that piece of paper that allows us to redeem this prize! On a positive note, it was an experience to see the beach covered in 'imported' sand.

NYC...Washington DC

Ashamedly I haven't blogged for a while. Since I last recorded my wayward meanderings I have been to NYC, Washington DC, spent a day at the falls (Niagara), enjoyed another trip to Hong Kong (squeezing in a quick train trip over the border to Shenzen China), skied New Zealand's white fluffy slopes in all-too-beautiful Queenstown, kicked up my heels in South Australia (from Adelaide to Port Lincoln), as well as a few more destinations which currently escape me. This year Monty and Me (that's Man of the Manor - previously referred to His Lordship - and Yours Truly)are off to Abu Dhabi, Morocco, Spain, Paris and Singapore. Can't wait but it's a long way off yet. In the meantime this Hapless Traveller will upload some favourite photos (in the main taken by Man of the Manor)and post some interesting snippets deemed worthy of sharing...stay tuned.