Travel Thoughts: Czech Republic
One thing that I was disappointed about in the Czech Republic was that they didn’t have garage sales or flea markets.
The thing is, there was probably so much cool old stuff that people had in storage, in garages, etc. Or maybe they didn’t think it might have been cool, but for an American, it would have been. Design and construction of everyday things in Iron-Curtain countries was a lot different from things in America. There were different design sensibilities. And it seemed to me that things were built to last…or at least, the Czechs were thrifty and resourceful enough to be sure that they did last. Toasters, clocks, games, appliances, tools…there was all sorts of stuff that was cool to me. Some stuff I did find and bring home: A little hand-held electronic game from Russia, that was about the same level of tech as the old LED football games, circa 1976. A toaster with fold-out spring-loaded sides where you’d manually insert the bread. A couple postcards that had record grooves on them—you could put onto a turntable and play a song. Other things I couldn’t find or couldn’t justify or couldn’t bring home: A full-sized garden scythe. A plug-in stove lighter that buzzed and crackled and sparked menacingly, but worked great. Clip-on candle holders to put real candles onto the Christmas tree. A Jawa motorcycle. A Young Pioneer neckerchief.
Anyway, there was just so much stuff that I thought was really neat, that to Czechs was probably so much ancient/forgettable history. Like, the Czech equivalent of shag carpet, promotional beer company lamps, and yarn God’s eyes. The kind of stuff you’d find at any garage sale or flea market. But—as far as I could tell—they never had those kinds of sales. I don’t know if people were just used to keeping everything, in case they needed it someday. Or if there was some stigma attached to selling off your belongings. But I would have been all over those sales, if they’d had them.
3 months ago • 0 notes