So we booked a cottage on the St.George basin’s shore – literally a dream house! – and came to celebrate another portion of school vacation, pristine nature and street markets in our first adventure for the year. As a family of well rounded travellers we’ve hired many holiday places but this lake cottage in the heart of Jervis Bay is one of my favourites.
Rarely one sees so beautifully decorated holiday rental, with so many little yet exclusive details. The interior once again reminded me of years past, with its vintage cupboards, wicker baskets, linen curtains and wooden plates. Just like my grandparent’s country house but without the lakefront sunset-watching porch and the kangaroos wandering around in early morning.
Having spent 5 days in this tiny piece of paradise, we had enough time to eat kilos of the best ice cream in the area (in Huskisson), to swim in the turquoise waters of Murrays beach and to visit Kiama’s blowhole. And the monthly Kiama beach market of course.
Since the day we learned that every weekend there is a market somewhere, we’ve become honorary patrons of all street stalls and fairs. I cannot say the male part of our family is as enthusiastic about this type of entertainment as the other half but they do their best – they look interested, they support the long selection process and when the whirlwind of freshwater pearls and crochets exhaust them, they quietly retreat under a palm to chew on a gozleme.
I find it fantastic that so many farmers, craftsmen and merchants do not hold rented shops but migrate from market to market, followed by devoted clientele. Most of them accept online or phone orders and might even personally deliver the goods. To say that I like this way of buying and selling would be a major understatement. I adore it.
It might be because of the small seaside stalls in my home city when I was a little kid (seashells necklaces, amber, zinc buckets with freshly cut flowers, fried donuts dusted with caster sugar, crochet linen) or because I have always had a thing for things (and people) with soul but the instant I see a market my legs automatically that way, it’s inevitable.
We now have a short list with favourite sellers, colourful like movie characters, as well as a list with upcoming market dates on the fridge. Yesterday for example was the date for the Aloe Dame who has the brigthest smile ever and has been making all things aloe vera for the past 35 years. It is a pity I don’t have a photo of her green stall but it is always painful to take pictures at markets because 1) there are not many people there waving photo lenses, 2) it is impolite to photograph unknown people, and 3) I might come across as someone who tries to steal art ideas if I am too insistent with the camera.
Luckily, modern photographic equipment allows taking pictures from a decent distance so I still have a pile of captured market magic which will stay with me forever, reminding me of times when authenticity, color and smile were an important part of human life.
♾
