The Rhine's Gigantic Flea Market

On Saturday Kevin and I biked over the Rhine Leisure Park to check out the once-monthly flea market. Held every third Saturday from April through November, the market, according to the Bonn tourist Web site, one of the largest of its kind in Germany.

Even though I had read this statement before attending the event, I was shocked at the size. Lining the tiered paths, the vendors rambled along a large portion of the park.

Unlike flea markets or antique fairs that I am used to visiting in the states, this had less of a professional feel. Each vendor seemed like individuals or families out selling their old stuff, as if it were one huge neighborhood garage sale. There was a lot of second-hand clothing, toys, and books for sale. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more furniture and large items for sale. But, after realizing that — since cars were left in the parking lots — vendors had to lug their wares to their spot, I quickly forgave them.

There wasn't much rhyme of reason to who set up where, and Kevin and I simply wandered through the park until we were tired. There was no sense in trying to see everything.

Not surprisingly, I overspent my 20 Euro budget. How could I pass up the covered beer stein that said "prosit" (German for "cheers"), the glass bowls with orange polka dots, or the 2 Euro blue wrought iron wine rack?