After breakfast i ventured off to the Mannheim Flea Markets. I caught the tram. I still have no idea how to get a ticket to a station that isnt listed on the machine. Im sure there are different zones, Im just not sure what these zones are. I also dont know if im meant to get the ticket stamped by the machine once i get on the tram. I watched everyone else and only saw one man do this. Im not sure if thats because locals all have specially monthly tickets or something, or if that one man didnt know what he was doing...I havent got booked so i will leave it for now.
For once i didnt get lost. I made it to the flea markets (which are only held once a month - so i scored there). They were MASSIVE. Like a big big area of lots of little little stalls. hmmm...i spose thats a flea market...So i spent 2 hours wandering around trying to take in everything. It seems flea markets are the same world wide. Just a lot of people selling a lot of junk. It was hot, and there was no shade. But i was determined to look at everything because i thought i might find something. Im getting pretty good at faking I know german. When people talked to me i just smiled and nodded, said "danka" then left. They probably thought something was wrong with me. Especially if they were actually asking me questions...Anyway after lots of walking I decided the only thing i wanted to buy was at one of the first stalls I went to. 3 little copper cake moulds. I walked back but couldnt find the stall, or the lady had sold them. Bummer. But it was ok because I saw some others for sale elsewhere. I went to that stall instead. They only had a set of two. I think i got ripped off. As soon as you have to ask 'do you speak english?' followed by 'what are these used for?' and finally 'how much?' they know they can charge you what ever you like. The ladies were very friendly. I paid 10euro. Maybe thats why they were friendly, because at the next stall i went to to buy one more smaller tin the lady asked for 1euro. I think i got ripped off. The second lady then offloaded 3 more on me for 2euro. I didnt really need 6 little tins...oh well.
After 2 hours of browsing peoples junk (old nintendos, old crockery, cuttlery, lots of kids clothes and toys, plants, miscellaneous tools, old clocks, old cameras etc. etc.) it was time to leave. I kept wanting to look at old books, then remembered there wasn't much point buying books in german (although i could easily fake reading one on a tram). Once i was back in the centre market square of Mannheim I had a walk around the produce market there. It was awesome. Lots of fresh flowers (roses, peonies, lilies etc.) and lots of fresh fruit and vege stalls. I was taking a photo of some fresh blueberries and strawberries then this old man who was the stall owner put four cherries in my hand - so cute! Again i feigned my german and said thanks and smiled and nodded yes to whatever he asked. I think he said "they are good arent they?". And they were. Sweet and juicy. Best smells = fresh strawberries, and the herb stalls. Worst smell: the cheese stall - ewwww. But i still bought a fresh wedge of camenbert to go with my fresh grainy bread for lunch - at 1euro who could resist!
From there it was back to the hotel via a craft supply shop/cafe (best combination ever) i had seen advertising a sale. They had some awesome bits and pieces. I bought some nice weighted/patterned gift wrap, and coveted the selection of pens, coloured pencils, oil pastels and papers. Lucky my suitcase has a weight restriction - it saved my bank balance a lot of pain.
Home for lunch which was fresh bread, cheese and salad. Dat ist gut! Skyped home (again!). Then i watched some tv via youtube (gold old Gruen transfer). I love the internet. Its magic. Its also the best way to procrastinate. But, finally, i forced myself to sit and read the dreaded case study. It actually turned out to be quite intesting. Did you know it takes a grape vine 3-4 years to start producing grapes, and then it doesnt produced its best grapes until 35 years of age? No I didnt think you did know that. It took me forever to read. I only put down my highlighter at 5pm. I needed a reward. I needed a gelati (need is a strong word to use. strong, but appropriate). So i headed back down the street. I love the stores open hours here - so convenient. Lots of people were out and about shopping of a saturday evening. It doesnt really feel like evening because its so bright. I chose my gelati store (1 of 4 in 2 blocks). It was FANTASTIC (hazlenut and cookies). I can see why they are so popular (so popular in fact that a shoe shop a few stores down had a 'no icecream' sign on the door). Wandered around the shops for a while. They have a lot of shoe shops with a lot of nice leather shoes. Its lucky my feet are so long because that too saved my bank balance much pain!
Back home by 7.30pm. I purchased some postcards in the front lobby. This afternoons clerktress (female clerk) gets the award for the most helpful and friendly. Turned on the tv. I dont know why i bother. All i get in English is BBC News. Although as I write this I am watching Run Fatboy Run. Its amazing how their dubbed voices almost fit with the mouths. Dylan Moran in german is still funny. Now its 9.15. I need some dinner and then some sleep as tomorrow i head off to Heidelberg to see the sights with my friendly tourgudi Witali. Looking forward to seeing a familiar face.
I'll keep you posted!
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