By the way, why is it called "flea market"? Why not "cockroach market" or "spider market", for example?
Many historians agree that flea markets began their "conquest" of Europe from Paris.
As Jean BÉDEL writes in one of his books about the history of Paris, the key version of the origin of the name of the flea market refers to the French proverb: "He who sleeps with dogs wakes up with their fleas." This allegory reminds us that bad deeds have unpleasant consequences and, most importantly, one can "catch" them like fleas.
The second version: a person rummaging through a pile of old things closely resembles someone searching for fleas in fur. However, sometimes knowledgeable people manage to find real treasures at the flea market.
Bédel tells the story of a secondhand dealer, Davidov, who was lucky enough to buy paintings by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec for a pittance at a Parisian "flea market" - the works had been thrown away by the artist's ignorant relatives. Another lucky individual became the owner of invaluable daguerreotypes by the famous photographer, caricaturist, novelist, and balloonist Nadar.
What can be found at the Gauja market?
This season, according to experts, it is relatively cheap here, and after some bargaining, one can buy camouflage for fishermen, boots, shoes, gloves, knives, balls, old toys, banknotes, coins, stamps, cutlery, and many other items.
As always, tableware is particularly popular. This can include glasses from the USSR era made of crystal, shot glasses, goblets, fruit vases, candy dishes, and dessert bowls. Collectors especially value sets of tableware.
For example, crystal glasses from the USSR with a decanter will cost more than the items sold separately. The price increases even more for colored tableware.
Today, the flea market or Lietu tirgotava operates on the right side of the Tallinn highway just past Adazi, before the bridge to Gauja, until three o'clock in the afternoon.
