Book & Coin Market

Advantages: Interesting place
Disadvantages: Expensive

...Covent garden market, formally the fruit and veg market is now a magnet for tourists. The vegetable produce has been replaced with a mixture of tradditional market stalls offering everything from coins, clothes and collectables to jems and junk. There are also a number of stores selling pottery, toys, books and assorted other things generally at high prices. A number of large stores (Dr. Martens can be found around the main square. To me, however, the main attraction of Covent Garden is not the shops and stalls, but the people and performers. It is fascinating to sit in one of the street cafes and watch the tourists and to watch with amusement the various street artists plying their trade. Somehow Covent Garden sums up what it is to be a tourist in London.... Read review

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Advantages: Nature is intact
Disadvantages: The north is very expensive

...or Pulain the south or Porto Cervo, Costa Smeralda (Emerald coast) up north (where all the VIPs go). When it comes to history do go and look at the Nuraghe buildings in Barumini which are ancient towers made of stone and go back to the 11th - 6th century BC. We also have the Caves of Is Zuddas with stalactite-stalagmite making strange shapes all carved by nature. In Cagliari you have the beautiful views from Castello "Castle" the old town which faces the gulf and the whole town, absolutely breathtaking! Every Sunday the Bastione in Castello holds a second hand market where you can purchase all sorts of items, from coins and stamps to old clothes, bags, books and car parts! HOW TO GET TO SARDINIA ************ Ryanair and Easyjet offer low cost flights to this land. Ryanair goes from Stansted to Alghero and to book just go to www... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Interesting place
Disadvantages: Expensive

...Covent garden market, formally the fruit and veg market is now a magnet for tourists. The vegetable produce has been replaced with a mixture of tradditional market stalls offering everything from coins, clothes and collectables to jems and junk. There are also a number of stores selling pottery, toys, books and assorted other things generally at high prices. A number of large stores (Dr. Martens can be found around the main square. To me, however, the main attraction of Covent Garden is not the shops and stalls, but the people and performers. It is fascinating to sit in one of the street cafes and watch the tourists and to watch with amusement the various street artists plying their trade. Somehow Covent Garden sums up what it is to be a tourist in London.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Easy to get to
Disadvantages: Finding stuff other than the Iron Bridge

...that it was stamped on the reverse of the 10/- silver coins RELIG:PROT:LEG:ANG:LIBER:PAR and silver half crowns (2/6) REL.PRO.LEG.ANG.LIB.PAR that the Royal Mint produced at that time. The abbreviations are short for "RELIGIO PROTESTANTIUM, LEGES ANGLIAE, LIBERTAS PARLIAMENTI" which is the declaration in Latin." (Yes, thank you, I do know the above is on Wikepedia. I know that because I wrote the item for them!) The National Farmers Union was originally founded in Wellington, William Withering who discovered the heart drug Digitalis was born in Wellington and worked on his discovery in the town, having bought a herbal cure for heart problems from a Wise Woman" of Wellington. In nearby Dawley, another ancient market town, subsumed by Telford Captain Webb, the first man to swim the English Channel, was born. And Madeley (yes, you guess it, another... Read review

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Advantages: Godd variety, Excellent leather and fashion goods
Disadvantages: Can be expensive

...in the department stores. @@@ Piazza Fontanella Borghese - trading takes place every day except Sundays at this market which is a chic spot to see and be seen in. The specialities here include old books, second - hand cutlery, prints and maps, and antiques. Bargaining makes for exciting shopping but you probably need to know a smattering of Italian. @@@ Porta Portese - Rome's most famous flea market is open only on Sunday mornings and it is advisable to get to the Porta Portese early if you are after a bargain. There are reckoned to be more than 2,200 vendors here which gives you good idea of the popularity of the place. It's de rigeur to bargain, bargain and bargain some more but remember the stall holders know their stuff inside out. Besides antiques - some of which are of the instant variety - the Porta Portese is a good haunt for leather goods... Read review

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