The Dry Bridge in Tbilisi is near the river, but it does not span the river Mt’k’vari (the Kura). It spans the road next to the river. Hence, its name: Dry Bridge. On Saturdays, and Wednesdays, the bridge is bustling with antique and bric-a-brac sellers. Some sell every day in good weather, but there is less of a display. Souvenirs, spoons, dolls, jewellery, medals, home wares, musical instruments, badges, and art pieces are on display in a patchwork spread on the bridge’s pavement, in the open air.
Tourists
find the Dry Bridge markets (and the surrounding area) fascinating, and locals
find just what they need – an old tap for the bathroom, and a washer to fix the
tap. Sellers eke out a living, but often professional artists, some with their
own galleries, will sell their work there too. Oils, sketches, works covered
in feathers or gold leaf; with or without frames, many are mass produced, but
some are original and innovative. It depends on the day, the season, the hour,
and where you look. The work is cheap enough – and some tourists on-sell the
work back in their own countries for much more.
As
spring begins, more sellers are out, and so are more tourists. One thing is
noticeable. Like all markets, the marketers are known to each other – they look
out for each other, they share bread and water, no matter the nationality or
region or their heritage. It’s a community. Some have been selling on the bridge since
the 1980s. And a friendly argument ensures about who has been there the
longest.
The
Dry Bridge, and the 9 March Park, are located by the river, near the
newly-built mushroom of government offices (the Tbilisi City Hall).
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