Experiences labelled with 'Shopping'
Just an hour outside of Paris by TGV, the town of Lille is home to one of the most anticipated events in France: the annual two-day Braderie de Lille. As the largest flea market in all of Europe, this vibrant event dates back to medieval times and now attracts almost two million visitors each September. The “Braderie” (French for “sell at a low price”) offers over 10,000 exhibitors hawking their wares with everything from knick-knacks to treasures. Saturday kicks off the Braderie de Lille, and as with any yard sale, the first day offers the best selection. Note that “window shopping” is allowed on Saturday morning, but the sale does not officially begin until 2:00 p.m. Although the streets will get crowded and may even ...
With its beautifully restored 17th century burgher townhouses and polished cobblestone streets, Gdansk, Poland shows little of the ravages bestowed on it by modern history. Famously invaded by Hitler at Westerplatte on the 1st September 1939, Gdansk’s shelling sparked WWII and threw Europe into conflict. Six years later, the city was liberated by the Red Army, only to be destroyed once again. After decades of painstaking restoration, Gdansk once again resembles something of its former glory. Central to its heritage is amber, with the earliest evidence of an amber workshop in Gdansk dating back to the late 10th century AD. Today Gdansk runs its own amber processing school, and its amber masters continue to enjoy worldwide appreciation for their craft. Archeologists believe that amber was ...
Amid the glittering skyscrapers of Shanghai, Yu Yuan Garden is an enclave of traditional Chinese architecture and a classical garden. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Shanghai, Yu Yuan Garden is worth a visit for the garden and teahouses, especially if you don't get a chance to go to the nearby garden cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. But beautiful as it is, the true attraction for many who visit Yu Yuan Gardens is the enormous bazaar that extends from the central area and the entrance to the garden, to the outskirts of the local neighborhood. Here, great deals on all sorts of things can be found, from embroidered slippers, “new” antiques, lucky charms, fake paper money to burn for your ancestors' ghosts, parasols, ...
Visiting the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is at the top of the list on most tourist itineraries, coming in a close second maybe only to Hagia Sophia. But while visiting the Turkish capital, you might receive mixed reviews of the legendary Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Some Turks describe it as being as close to a real Turkish market as McDonald's is to fine dining. But throughout much raving or regretting of this experience, you just have to see this spectacular merchant mini-city with your own eyes. The Grand Bazaar (or “Kapalı Çarşı” in Turkish), means “covered bazaar". It has humble beginnings as a small masonry market enclosure called a “bedesten,” built in 1455 during the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. Located in the heart ...
