Dec. 12: Chor (Thieves) Bazaar

Today we are off to the train station again. Even though we have walked this way before it looks different each time and we see many new sights every time. Today I noticed a hand cranked kids Ferris wheel ride.

Sunday is a great day to ride the trains because the rider volume is much lower than during the work week (only 4 people in the train doorway instead of 8+) so we chose to travel 2nd class. The total return cost for the four of us is 48rs or 1 USD. Twyla and Alison traveled in the women’s car and even had seats! Once we got to Grants Road station we treated ourselves to a taxi ride to Chor Bazaar

instead of a rickshaw so all of us could travel together. Rickshaws carry a max of three adults, although they are more comfortable with two.






Chor or Thieves Bazaar is one of several bazaars and markets in the central section of Mumbai. If you are ever interested, several guided tour options are available from Mumbai Magic: http://www.mumbaimagic.com/

We have our own guides, Twyla and Greg, so head off into the bazaar with gusto.  We are interested in seeing antique furniture and household furnishings and aim for

Mutton Street

.  The mixture of street happenings, people and animal watching, building architecture, as well as window shopping makes our progress slow, but fun.  (Anne, we even spied some Christmas balls! Huge ones and heavy.)

I can’t understand how many shops selling the same type of items can exist right next door to each other. How many shops selling bamboo scaffolding do you need? The most shops of one type we see today are car parts. In the street are several cars in various stages of dismantling with parts leaving the demolition site for several different shops.

When we arrived at our first furniture/household items shop, Twyla was recognized and greeted. (I wonder if she gets a commission?) There are many great things to look at in this shop and others on the street. Do any of you need a porch swing made out of brass adorned ox cart tongues, or a metal grain bin as tall as Dean, or an old set of semaphore flags? Let us know. I’m sure shipping can be arranged. It is amazing how many and how diverse the items are in a single shop let alone along the whole street of shops.

At the end of our bazaar crawl, at the edge of the bazaar, was a cool upper floor restaurant with cool drinks for all. Twyla has introduced us to fresh lime sodas, and Alison is already addicted. Very refreshing.