Flea markets

A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent. The flea market vendors may range from a family that is renting a table for the first time to sell a few unwanted household items to a commercial operation including a large variety of used merchandise, scouts who rove the region buying items for sale from garage sales and other flea markets, and several staff watching the stalls.

Many flea markets have food vendors who sell snacks and drinks to the patrons, and may be associated with carnivals or concerts. Some have become infamous as outlets for bootleg movies and music or knockoff brand clothing, accessories, or fragrances.

History

The origins of the term are disputed, but some have observed that buyers and sellers may be as active as fleas, or that the original people and goods were infested.According to Word and Phrase Origins, the term was derived from the "Vallie Market" of Manhattan.

The original flea market may be the Marché aux puces ("market with fleas" in French) of Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. It is a large, long-established outdoor bazaar, one of four in Paris. From the late 17th century, the makeshift open-air market in the town of Saint-Ouen began as temporary stalls and benches among the fields and market gardens where ragpickers exchanged their findings for a small sum.

Shopping in Albania

When traveling to Albania, besides the great variety of sites to see and things do, shopping, in and of itself, can be also be very satisfying as you find yourself browsing through, and picking up, the perfect souvenir to take back home. Due to the wealth of traditional and authentic handicrafts, and handmade souvenirs, relics, multiethnic costumes from all parts of the country, alcoholic drinks, and the specialties of local cuisine, tourists enjoy shopping in Albania with enough selection to warrant a shopping holiday.
Green and flea markets
Green and flea markets in every big and even some of the smaller cities in Albania are great places where you can see and meet people from all parts of Albania and observe their customs, especially from the rural areas. Local people in these special markets, sell healthy and organic food, domestic fruits and vegetables, and a variety of different and regional goods. If you are interested in locally made and high quality food, you should definitely try these green markets.