I'm going next week (for about my millionth trip) and am looking for some first-hand advice on fleamarkets in the central part of Paris? Where, when, and what kind of cool junk will I find? <BR>Thanks to all for your help!

Sorry Janice, all the Paris flea markets are closed do to the hand to mouth disease.

Is that really true????

Dear Janice, <BR> <BR>My wife and I have visited the Marche aux Puces at Clignancourt at St. Ouen several times. You will need to take Metro line #4 and exit at the end of the line at Porte de Clignancourt. Once you get off the sub-way you will need to go up the Ave. de la Porte de Clignancourt, past all of the Afican stands until you arrive at the rue des Rosiers, turn left and then follow your nose to the main part of the marchee. They do have lots of junk, but they also have fantastic furniture, Armoires, Hutches, Paintings, Tapestries, Fireplaces, Mirrors, etc. many costing over 100,000 Francs. We purchased two beautiful antique mirrors for our apartment. They will bargain and will deliver in Paris as well as ship to the US. <BR> <BR>You might want to view the following website: http://www.les-puces.com/ <BR> <BR>Happy shopping and good bargain hunting!! <BR> <BR>Randall Smith

Randall, you are the best!

Go to www.paris-touristoffice.com and do a search on the site in the Events section for "second-hand markets". You will get a list of all the great local flea markets scheduled next week and in which arrondisements they're located. You should know that the "marches aux puces" at St. Ouen are mostly high-end antiques. Go and look around, but don't expect to find much cool junk. Check out the Porte de Vanves market on Saturday morning also.

Pick up a "Pariscope" magazine at any newsstand as soon as you arrive (3 FF). There's a section on "brocantes" which lists neighborhood flea markets going on that weekend. I've found that these are the most manageable and pleasant ways to find a few things to bring home. I've bought everything there from a 1930s Art Deco serving tray to a 1950s pastis bottle to an 1820s armoire from Normandy. You won't have to wander to the outskirts of the city (Clignancourt, Vanves), and they're typically about one or two blocks long. I think that the "paris tourist" website described above also lists upcoming neighborhood brocantes.

TJ, thanks for the scoop on Pariscope. Yes, the English version of the tourist office site calls brocantes "second-hand markets" .

Janice <BR>Be careful of pickpockets/thieves when getting off the Metro at the flea market destination. They work in groups of more than 1 and are dressed in suits. They are efficient and professional. My wife and i saw a group of 2 or 3 thieves rob a lady tourist who was with other people but who was an easy mark with her pocketbook or fanny pocket that could be opend very easily. It happened as she was exiting the Metro stop.

How sad. Wonderful Paris. And all Janice can think of is pawing through somebody else's recycled junk.

Hope the flea markets aren't closed! If you go, beware of pickpocketers! I think I'm pretty alert to possible scams/thefts when traveling, but I was nearly taken by a ruse in the flea market. I was walking along in a crowd of people, when I notice a guy tapping me on my right shoulder. Incredibly, he was burning little holes in my jacket with a cigarette. As I was getting ready to chew him out, I felt a tugging on my left side. It was the arsehole's partner, trying to get my bag open. Fortunately, the bag opening is a bit tricky (plus I didn't have my valuables in that bag) and the guy couldn't open it. I swore at both of them and they laughed openly. No one around me came to my assistance. Whatever. I walked away with my bag intact, but with a scorched jacket. Left a really bad taste in my mouth.

P.S. I guess the moral of the story is not to carry a bag, even if it's hard to open or you don't put valuables in it, since you may attract unwanted attention and/or get your jacket burned. Also, I wonder why Frank (message above) didn't stop the poor lady tourist from getting pickpocketed when he saw it happening.