Reading - Part 3

Food is at its cheapest and freshest in markets. Farmers often sell direct to the consumer, without all the packaging, shipping and advertising that increases costs in shops and supermarkets. You can often find unusual products and those that are not mass-produced. Food markets are hugely popular and are found all over the world. For example the Kapular market in Helsinki, Finland sells moose, reindeer and bear salami. Wherever you are, food will be locally produced and reasonably priced.

Markets are often good places to buy clothes. Some sell cheap new and second-hand clothes, while others specialise in vintage or ethnically made clothes and original items. The markets of London are some of the best in the world for those who want to create a unique look for themselves. Many new designers start with a market stall, so if you are looking for a totally original item of clothing, you could get something really special at a bargain price at Brick Lane, Spitalfields or Portobello Road markets.

Another type of market is a flea market. This is a much more informal type of market, where second-hand products can be sold by anyone. If you have unwanted items at home, you could take them to a flea market and sell them yourself. There are also antiques and possibly local crafts at this kind of market. In some parts of the world, flea markets have developed into car boot sales, where people sell their unwanted items from their cars.

In some places, markets are directed at visitors and tend to sell handicrafts typical of the region. For many tourists, a visit to a nearby market to buy souvenirs is an important part of their holiday. Guadalajara in Mexico has a huge range of traditional textiles, glassware, ceramics and art works and Seoul in Korea has some wonderful original designs of all kinds of products at affordable prices. Countries in the Middle East usually have beautiful handmade rugs and carpets, and Indian markets sell colourful handlooms and fabrics and beautiful silk scarves.

In Europe, Christmas is the time when seasonal markets are held to sell decorations and gifts for the festive season. One of the most famous is the market in Prague, where stalls sell handmade crafts and gifts, and one of the most famous is Wenceslas Square in Prague in the Czech Republic. The market is a symbol of the decorated wooden huts selling traditional handicrafts, and it is a popular place to visit with visitors from all over the world.