Gallup 9th Street Flea Market

Above, the Gallup 9th Street Flea Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been about two years since I was last at the Gallup 9th Street Flea Market, thanks to the pandemic. But prior to that, I have attended it a few times and it is a good place to spend an hour or two browsing around.

Things appear to be back to normal and the Gallup 9th Street Flea Market is up and running again.

Only In Your State has posted an article on the flea market with photographs.

They begin with:

You can’t go wrong when you visit a flea market in New Mexico. You can find unique items, great deals, and fun gifts. But if you’re looking for a flea market that has it all, be sure to check out Gallup Flea Market. In addition to offering great treasure hunting, there is delicious food, great music, and even pony rides for the kids!

Located in Gallup, New Mexico, about two hours west of Albuquerque, you will find the Gallup 9th Street Flea Market. It is one of the largest Native American markets in the United States and has been operating for more than 25 years.

Above, the Gallup 9th Street Flea Market does have pony rides. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Travel To Cuba: It's Complicated

Above, a Havana flea market/bazaar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is still possible for American to travel to Cuba, but there's many rules and restrictions that have to be sorted out.

The Los Angeles Times posted and article on traveling to Cuba, which I found interesting since I visited Havana in April, before travel got clamped down in June. I had never been to a communist country before and thought a trip there would be educational. And it was.

Here's a snippet:

The numbers of foreign visitors had been growing every year, boosting Cuba’s economy even before President Barack Obama and Raúl Castro, Cuba’s head of state, restored diplomatic relations in 2015. 

In June, President Trump clamped down, canceling the loose “people-to-people” category of U.S.-sanctioned group travel to Cuba. 

For Cuba travel to be “sanctioned” by the U.S. government, the money that individual American travelers spend here must benefit ordinary Cubans, not fall into the hands of the Cuban government. Rules for organized groups are different but now Americans traveling individually are supposed to stay in private homes, eat in privately owned restaurants, called paladares, and shop in privately owned stores.

Above, yours truly and Mitch Geriminsky upon arrival at a Havana Port terminal.

To read more, go here. 

Cuban Carved Wooden Indian

Above, the carved wooden Indian from Cuba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the last things I would have ever expected to buy while touring Havana, Cuba was a 5" carved wooden Indian figure.

Our tour wound up at an indoor flea market/bazaar for some shopping. I had exchanged $130 in U.S. dollars for Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC), which are used by foreign visitors to the country. By the time we reached the flea market/bazaar, I had about seven CUCs left after buying cigars and rum.

Above, inside the Havana flea market/bazaar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I did briefly contemplate buying a Cuban cap, but had second thoughts since it would not get much wearing use.

As I wandered around the aisles and looked in many vendor stalls with all kinds of souvenir goods, I spotted some wooden Indian figures of varying sizes. The 5" one had a price of five pesos. Since my home is mainly decorated in Southwest style, the Indian would fit in. So I bought it.

I ended up with two pesos (in paper currency) and some coins left over.

Touring Havana, Cuba, Part Two

Above, El Cristo de La Habana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our tour of Havana, Cuba, we headed out of the main part of the city to visit the El Cristo de La Habana (Christ of Havana) statue and the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña.

This massive statue of Jesus was completed in 1958, a year before the Cuban revolution. The statue overlooks the city from its hilltop plaza.

Above, our ship, Majesty of the Seas, at Havana Port. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While at the El Cristo de La Habana, I found a good spot to take some photos of our ship, Majesty of the Seas in Havana Port.

Above, a Cuban government faciity near the El Cristo de La Habana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nearby, is the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, which is an 18th-century fortress complex featuring museums, cultural events & a nightly canon-firing ceremony. The only place we went to there was the cigar and rum store. At the fortress, wreckage parts of the U-2 spy plane that was shot down during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis were displayed.

Above, parts of the U-2 spy plane that was shot down during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Originally, I thought I didn't take a photo of the U-2 wreckage pieces, but while going through my photos, I found that I did take a picture of them.

Above, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the store, I bought ten Montecristo No. 2 cigars. For every five cigars purchased, they give one free cigar. So I ended up with a dozen cigars. I also bought the legal limit of rum (1 litre).

Above and below, a cannon and gun at Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After we made our purchases, we then made our way back into the city. Along the way, we passed Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro, which is an iconic symbol of Havana's seagoing past. The fort dates back to the late 16th century.

Above, vintage steam locomotives were displayed outside of the flea market/bazaar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the city, we went to a flea market/bazaar for more shopping. Mitch Geriminsky bought some cigars there and since I only had seven pesos left, I ended up getting a small (3 inch) wooden carved Indian figure for five pesos.

Above, inside the flea market/bazaar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After shopping, we then headed back to the ship. It was a fun excursion. It was interesting to see Cuba. I found the people there to be nice and friendly, which is not surprising since our issues are with their communist government and not with them. It looks like some capitalism is slowly creeping back into Cuban life, which is a good sign.

Above, as we were sailing out of Havana Port, here's a shot of the port's entrance with Castillo
De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro and its lighthouse on the right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Actually, I wouldn't mind going back to Cuba for a return visit.

Above, the entrance to the cigar and rum store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To see part one of our Havana tour, go here.

Above and below, inside the cigar and rum store. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Top Tokyo Flea Markets

Above, Godzilla peering over buildings in Shinjuku. After a visit with Godzilla, one
can head over to the Shinjuku Central Park Flea Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan have many options for buying souvenirs and gifts in Tokyo before heading back home.

One source for souvenirs and gifts are the Tokyo flea markets. Tokyo Cheapo has a list of what they consider to be the top ones.

They begin with:

A cheapo’s paradise, Tokyo flea markets are awesome places for bargain-hunting. And there’s no shortage of them—you’ll find something happening in one of the parks or parking lots just about every Saturday and Sunday, as well as some public holidays, throughout the year. 

You can fork out wads of cash for fancy souvenirs at soulless stores, or you can riffle through the stalls at one of these flea markets and find all sorts of awesome (and original) things for a fraction of the price. Keen on a previously loved kimono for just US$9.11*? How about an antique tea ceremony bowl? Secondhand fashion (still seasons ahead of much of the rest of the world) for a few hundred yen? You can also find CDs and DVDs, books, vinyls, coffee presses, random military stuff and much, much more. #cheapowinning 

Here is our pick of top Tokyo flea markets to explore for mind-blowing bargains and good fun. Note: the smaller markets can be a bit hit and miss—buzzing one month, dead the next. Also, this post is peppered with cheapo tips—keep an eye out for them!

To read more, go here. 

Gallup Flea Market

Above, vendors selling tamales on the left and baseball caps and blankets on the right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to the Gallup Adventure Guide I got the other day from the Red Rock Park office, I found out about the Gallup Flea Market.

Today, I went to the flea market and, upon arrival, I found a lot of parked cars and a lot of people there.

Above, a vendor selling clothing on the right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After parking, I went into the flea market and wandered around. It has everything one can imagine, but with a lot of food vendors and lots of Indian goods such as blankets, jewelry and pottery. It even has pony rides for kids.

Above, the pony rides. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I came upon one food vendor who was selling tamales. I made a mental note to myself to come back and buy a dozen. I am glad I did as the tamales were excellent.

No doubt I will probably be back.

Feds After Yard Sales

The Federal government is now targeting your local neighborhood garage sales, yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores.

FoxNews.com is reporting:

Americans who slap $1 pricetags on their used possessions at garage sales or bazaar events risk being slapped with fines of up to $15 million, thanks to a new government campaign.

The "Resale Round-up," launched by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, enforces new limits on lead in children's products and makes it illegal to sell any items that don't meet those limits or have been recalled for any other reason.

The strict standards were set in the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act after a series of high-profile recalls of Chinese-made toys.

The standards were originally interpreted to apply only to new products, but now the CPSC says they apply to used items as well.

This is just another example of nanny government and busybody do-gooders poking their noses into your business.

To read the full article, go here.