“Vengaaa, José, I prefer to lose a little money on a friend than sell it to someone who won’t enjoy it as much for far more.”
Luis sells books every Thursday morning at the Jueves flea market, and I flicked through his offerings on Spanish war planes for the Novio a few weeks ago. José is a repeat customer who bargains him from 20€ to 15€, snagging an EADS-issued encyclopedia on Air Force machines.
I met Raquel at Casa Vizcaíno one Thursday morning to browse the stands at the mercadillo, not having anything in mind to buy but bringing Camarón just in case.
My father would disappear every Sunday morning to swap meets when I was a kid, always looking for a bargain and spare car parts. The first time he took me, promising an elephant ear and new pogs, I was overwhelmed at the amount of stands, spread blankets and objects being sold.
El Jueves gave me the same feelings, just with no fried dough. There’s de todo un poco: old books, a version of my first cell phone, paintings, flamenco dresses and even trajes de luces.
In the end, I bought an old school BINGO game for the academy, bargained down from 5€, and five lapel pins for a euro each. I didn’t sift through much junk or feel pulled towards splurging on any one item (except for maybe a bust of the Virgin Mary), but I think I’ll be back.
As Raquel’s boyfriend said, they find new things to hock every week.
If you go: El Jueves takes over the southern end of Calle Feria between Calle Castelar and Calle Correduría every Thursday morning. Things begin to get started around 10am and last until around 1pm. Be sure to bring small change and watch your belongings.
Have you ever been to el Jueves? Know of other famous swap meets in Spain or beyond?
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Sounds like fun. I miss that sort of market – the ones we have further north don’t have the eclectic mix of stuff to search through! Great post.
I love piles of junk!
I think El Jueves flea market is even older than Seville… Next time you see Luis, the bookseller, tell him that you know me… He’ll give you a great discount. Suerte!!!
It’s highly possible! I spoke with Luis for a while since the Novio is a pilot – he was great!
I lived right by this when I lived in Sevilla, yet I never got a chance to go because I was always at work when it was on! Just another excuse to go back
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I had never been able to go because of work, either! Felt it was finally time, haha.
Mercadillos are not something exclusive from Seville, on the contrary: you can find them in almost every midsize village around the country. They were something I used to miss while in England, until I discovered the carboot sale. Although not exactly the same, you would find as well “de todo un poco”.
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Mercadillos are all over – I haven’t been to any outside of Seville, surprisingly!
Oh those bullfighter jackets are incredible!
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Great blog! We are excited about going tomorrow, thanks for the tips and suggestions!
Me pleasure! Enjoy!!