Sachertorte City: Things I Did Not Buy at the Flohmarkt (but maybe should have)

This is not my promised post about kolaches in the Czech Republic, but I haven't actually had time to go there yet. There're only two buses every day to the closest town (called Brno...Czech needs more vowels), making it a very real possibility I'll get stuck with only my meat-filled pastries for company.

So today's post is about one of my favorite things in Vienna - the Flohmarkt.

The Flohmarkt is a phenomenon here. Its literal translation is "flea market," but it's not the trans-Atlantic equivalent of the American flea market, which are generally relegated to old warehouses and populated by equally old crafters, or people trying to sell the clothes they wore to high school back in 1983.

Not here. Here, the Flohmarkts are open-air celebrations. There's live music, ranging from pan flute players to brass bands composed of old men, to concert cellists, and cover bands who don't really know the words to the English songs they're singing. Every few stalls is a food stall: Doner kebabs, Austrian baked goods, fresh fruits and veggies. They're the more orderly version of a bazaar.

There's quality ware at a Flohmarkt, for cheap. I've bought quite a few things at them, including a new down coat and boots for 5 euro. Oh yes.

And then there's the stuff I didn't buy. It's much more entertaining:

I believe this is a giant barrel of saurkraut. I especially like that someone's wallet snuck into this picture, making it look as if they're actually about to purchase some of it.

"Hey grown-up. Want some wine? It's over here in my unmarked white van..."

GERMAN BATTLESHIP. This, I almost bought. In fact, before I left the Flohmarkt, I went back to buy it. But, as these things always go, it was already gone. Sigh.

Dallas Cowboys license plate, lying on the ground in Vienna, Austria. Don't worry - I picked it up and put it on the table. I hope it found a good home.