Rastro News

Vergel has had a long and somewhat stilted start …but now it seems to have come of age. The event bills itself as a Rastro and Mercadillo (a sort of cross between a flea market and an all-purpose weekly outdoor market for domestic commodities). I don't want to get bogged down with chasing definitions through two languages …but Vergel's market isn't really a Rastro or a Mercadillo. It's a car boot sale that's trying to call itself something else!

Set in the leafy shade of Vergel's Safari Park's car park, I viewed a pleasant assortment of about fifty stalls spread over five aisles and came away with a few very worthwhile bargains! This market has managed to attract some traders that have been regulars at Jalón.

In previous years, this event has been about a dozen stalls at most and fizzled out …but this time around I really think they've got something worth going to (and all the growth potential you could wish for). My verdict is "definitely worth a visit, if you live between Gandía and Jávea …but don't drive further."

Billed as a collectors' fair, Rastro and auction that was both indoor and outdoor, I found the idea of a visit quite attractive, one wet Saturday morning in mid April. Vergel would be rained off, I reasoned, and there was no better time to sally forth and explore pastures new. Valles is so small and unregarded that it is only signposted when you are right on top of the place and didn't feature on my Michelin map at all. The directions to Valles, posted on the Aladdin's web site, probably wins prizes for brevity. The location map on the same site cannot be copied or saved …and takes about three minutes to download on a 56kb connection. Happily, a screen capture programme solved the problem, for my own use …and you can download my 'grabbed' map (as a ZIP file) by clicking here.

The venue is well signposted from about 2km out and there is parking for probably no more than a maximum of forty cars (this estimate includes the narrow road outside the place). The online advertising stated that the Rastro had an admission fee of 1€ …but nobody asked me for any money when I finally found the place. The 'rastro' turned out to be less than a dozen stalls arranged through though a series of austere rooms. I saw little evidence of money changing hands and felt sorry for stallholders who looked a bit desperate and also as though they were fighting off the early stages of hypothermia.

The auction itself was supposed to also command a further fee of 1€ and yet a quick walk around revealed mostly items that you could haggle over at all good rastros (at no charge at all).

This is a one-visit snapshot based on a single rainy Saturday …but exactly the kind of weather that should draw punters to an indoor venue. Personally, I wouldn't bother going again and would rate this venture's present chances of noticeable success as 'slim.'

I'm probably the worst person to write a review like this, but the only person writing without a financial interest. I have to be honest and admit that craft fairs are not really my thing.

My old friend, George, best characterised this sort of event as "full of lots of things that you never knew you needed" as he lugged carrier bags full of stuff back to my car. I had my doubts about George's sanity!

The craft fair isn't easy to find …the organisers have not posted direction signs and it is easy to wonder whether you have 'gone wrong' in your attempts to find the place.

The setting is rather pleasant as much of it is under broadleaved trees and I suppose I would best describe it as a good 'wander round' between Vergel Rastro and lunch!

The supermarket over the road includes a bodega and there is a Yugoslavian restaurant a few streets away that I would thoroughly recommend.