Remember several weeks ago how I posted about a bad day where I should've "paid attention to the signs" of something not wanting me to go anywhere. I totally should've listened. Really.
One, Eric and I had planned to go back to Bernkastel a while ago so we can get some bowls for him from that wine / pottery place. Since today was considered a "Family Day" at his work, he "had the day off". Well, something happened at work, which caused him to no longer have a day off due to being on call. Since he was on call, he wasn't allowed to go with me. Thanks, Eric's work! Doesn't seem like a big deal since several other peoples husbands ended up not having the day off, but, it screwed up our plans (like usual) and it's left me a little bitter.
A friend of mine ended up coming with me to Germany to check out a local bases "Bazaar". A Bazaar is when a lot of vendors get together and sell their products (wine, toys, signs, rugs, pottery, etc). I've missed the last few due to people usually planning their Pampered Chef parties on those specific days, but I finally managed to attend one! They happen twice a year (typically)..in the Spring and in the Fall. While trying to get there, I experienced extremely heavy fog, rain, bad traffic, stupid drivers..by the time I tried to park, I dealt with rude volunteers for the event. It was fantastical.
Once we got there, we checked out the two hangers where the event was taking place. At first, it was pretty impressive because there's all these cool things to check out and lots of stuff to pick through. Then after a while, you realize there's alot of things you can get from there, locally, and the majority of the stuff is over priced. Yes. Yes. I realize it's an event where you can get "unique" gifts for friends and family for the upcoming holidays, but I can't help but the vendors tend to gouge the customers. *Just my opinion*
The first hanger I went to really didn't have anything of much interest...then I found a booth that had shopping bags. Shopping bags...how exciting? Right? Actually, when you go grocery shopping over here, you have you bring your own shopping bag and bag things yourself. I actually like it considering you don't come home with tons of plastic bags. Anyway, these bags were really cool...they fit ONTO your shopping cart (it's elastic!). There's hooks on the support handles you snap onto your cart and put your groceries into, once you're done at check out, you put your groceries back into the bag, pick it up, then go on your merry way. Not bad for $13.50!
Relaxed:
Stretched as if it's in a cart:
The hooks on the bag to snap onto the cart:
Another friend of mine attended a different Bazaar about a week ago and there was a vendor there who sells tapestries. I, for one, love tapestries and have a few various pieces around my house. She ended up posting pics of hers and I instantly fell inlove with one of 'em, which was an old school map with leafs bordering it.
Here's a pic of it supplied by her site (it's a gorgeous color in person):
I finally located the vendor that my friend had purchased hers from, but noticed there was a second tapestry seller and checked out what she had. A lil' old lady named Roza was the owner and was extremely friendly and very helpful. When I say helpful, she helped me look through tons of tapestries, educated me on the various different types she carried, she even had tapestry purses! I loved her stuff because the back of the pieces were layered and padded (helps it hang better), the yarn was weaved together wonderfully and she was very accommodating with the prices. I REALLY wanted to get a "Tree of Life" for my wall because it's a great piece, plus I have a table runner and throw pillow with the same pattern. Luckily, she had a nice large piece AND even had matching euro sham covers for throw pillows (I wanted 'em for our bedroom). A plus: She has a shop over at Ramstein, so if we're wanting to pick up more stuff from her, we just need to make an appointment and she'll help us out. Nice!
Here's the stuff I ended up with from her (keep in mind, Eric is 6'3"):
The back of the tapestry:
The pillow shams...don't mind Eric, he just missed me and wanted to give me a hard time while modeling my goodies! They're nice cause they have zippered bottoms so I can just take them off when I wanna clean them (dry clean, only).
I went to talk to the other vendor (the one with the world map ) and I didn't buy anything. His stuff was nice, but, very expensive. I found the map tapestry, but when I was asking him about where it was made, he seemed to get a little defensive and kept referring to the price is guaranteeing quality. His rant went on for five minutes (atleast), which made a few shopping customers put their stuff back and move on. Not only that, but he was talking about the vendor I had just shopped with and was speaking badly about her to whoever was in his booth area ...that made me put the 160 euro piece back and keep walking. I don't mean to speak badly about the guy, but his whole domineer really bothered me.
When we were on our way out, my friend stopped off at a booth that had like a wine liqueur. It almost tastes like Bailey's Irish Cream! It's AMAZING! I ended up getting two bottles of it, figured we could use it for the upcoming holidays. ONLY THING IS: You should only have a shot glass of it and call it a day. It's VERY sweet, so you don't wanna go overboard on the stuff. Good news? The gal who sells this stuff has a shop at Spang, so if we're wanting more, we can stop off there and pick more up :)
"Likorspezialitat of fresh cream and high-quality "fine wine edge," a distillate of fine wines. Perhaps check it straight, keep with ice or with coffee, after opening the bottle please cool".
From there, we headed over to Bernkastel since I was still wanting to pick up some bowls for Eric (he's been really wanting some). It's about forty-ish minutes from the Bazaar. I might as well go the extra forty something minutes than drive two and a half hours all over again, ya know? SO, we get there and there's all kinds of parking! What luck! The last time I was there, we had to park half a mile away...it sucked to carry all that pottery then! When I found a spot pretty close to where I needed to be, I was stoked!
Well. I found out why there was so much parking.......
Everything was closed....on a Friday. Of. Course.
It's funny cause I was joking earlier saying "Watch. With the way this day is going, that place is going to be closed". Go. Me.
Now, the following pictures I'm posting are because some gals were asking me where exactly this store with the German pottery is. I attempted to look it up through Google, Google Maps, Google Earth and all that jazz, but I suppose the Google Car hasn't made it's way over there yet to get better detailed pictures of streets and such (they really need to get on that). So, hopefully this helps:
Here's an overhead view to get an idea of distance... I parked in the parking lot right behind a German restraunt (you have to go up some stairs to get to the main sidewalk).. the circle is where I parked, the star is the pottery / wine shop.
When you get into the sidewalk, go to the right and walk down about two streets (two streets on the left). If you get to the intersection that takes you over the bridge, you've gone too far!! See the peachy colored building? Go to that.
You'll get to the peachy colored building and when you look between it and a dark / older looking stone building, you'll see a statue down the way of (what looks like) Medusa. Walk towards the statue.
Once you get to the statue, keep walking past it in the direction of a yellow building (it's a cafe). You'll pass by a tourist / souvenir store to the right (lots of clutter in the window)..you only have to walk about 30 seconds till you reach the wine / pottery store:
TAH DAH! You can't miss it! It's right down the alley way! Hopefully when you go, IT WON'T BE CLOSED!!
All of the stuff that was waving to me from the window saying "Ne ner ne ner neee nerr..you can't get me!!".
I think what super irked me was that there were no store business hours posted...nothing. I searched all over the damn windows, peered through the gated glass doors to see the main entry area...no hours. NOTHING! I guess I have to call in advance to see if they're open, then drive three-ish hours once they answer the phone next time. Lovely.
So... yeah... that topped my day. Had a very....very long four hour ride home due to more idiots on the way back (stupid drivers, accidents, bumper to bumper traffic, more idiots). Loads of happiness with a side of migraine.
I can now say I've officially been to a Bazaar...don't think I'll make it a point to go to another one since they seem a little overrated. I'd much prefer to go to a Christmas Market (which I'll be going to on Tuesday) since I can get alot of the same things there (except pretty tapestries) amongst other cool / unique things.
The End.
