A few weeks ago I headed to Lille with Geni to discover the biggest flea market in Europe. It was mind blowing. Street after street, we’d turn a corner and not know which direction to take, each inch of footpath space taken up by someone selling nothing.

Locals with street front real estate, popped up the shutters, plugged in the electricity and became pop-up food stalls.  There was a language spoken, at first difficult to understand until we realised ‘ah-ha, c’est les chi-tis’. Having established that much and getting our ears around the dialect, we also realised that half the language came not verbally, but in the emotions on people’s faces, the atmosphere, and in the ambiance where a joviality beamed off everyone. There was joy in the air, people (two million in total) out for a good-time weekend.

With Lille done for 2011, Chatou packed up until the spring, there are a few weeks left of treasure hunting that remain until indoor weather takes over the weekends.  You can catch all the upcoming Brocantes and vide greniers here.  Once winter sets in and brocantes disappear until the spring, there is always Emmaus , year round, rain or shine, Emmaus helps the community with funds raised from the sale of donated goods going towards the disadvantaged, homeless, needy.

Should neither Lille, Chatou, nor Emmaus be your of cup of treasure, keep up to date with on French flea markets with Claudia at the Paris Apartment and Toma – Antiques Diva.

And in the meantime, have a happy weekend.