On every beach here in Sardinia (and in many other places, of course) you will find them: the vendors. They sell just about anything you can imagine selling: hats, sunglasses, sarongs, summer dresses, beach towels, beach toys, jewellery, speakers, iPhone cases...
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ShareOn some beaches, they come thick and fast and sometimes only a few minutes pass between one vendor and the next. I find it quite stressful, because I'm not interested in shopping on the beach and because some people are stubborn, but it also makes me wonder ...
"Cocco bello"
Most of the vendors seem to come from Africa and a few from India. And it makes you wonder: Do they live here in Sardinia or do they travel here to sell during the high season? Is someone organising the sales or is it every man for himself? Are the sales profitable? We see lots of vendors but not so often anybody buying ...
The occasional vendor looks Italian too, but they're mainly carrying large coolers and shouting "Cocco bello, cocco fresco" in a monotonous voice. We want to remember that we tried this once on the mainland in Italyand that it was coconut, which mostly felt a bit dry... But apparently it's popular in Italy!
The heat, the heat ...
We had planned to move on today and actually started packing up the motorhome. But the heat (35 degrees!) meant that we simply could not cope... We are still in Porto Pino in southern Sardinia and have first cooled off with a swim in the sea, and then hung out in the shade at the campsite's small restaurant. Today we also say big CONGRATULATIONS to Anette who won a protective case for iPhone 6 from LifeProof here on the blog!
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BP says:
Yes, the beach vendors are a pain in the arse. It's the same in Spain. There they even put up lots of rubbish on cardboard mats on the seafront. The police sometimes chase them away, but five minutes later they are back.
The problem reminds me of our Romanian beggars here in the city. It really is a grey area...
18 July 2015 - 17:44
Åsa says:
I don't think I've seen much of them in Portugal, but maybe they are on the Algarve beaches?
18 July 2015 - 19:11
Matts Torebring says:
Typical Italy, "Mustafa Bandidos" I told them. "Big family, seven children, no food, please shop", was my reply. There have been a few bath towels over the years after all.
18 July 2015 - 19:15
admin says:
BP, here they also walk around with gadgets hung on cardboard bases. Yes, certainly a grey area... I would like to know more about how it works?
Åsa, it is possible that they are in the Algarve. We were there in the winter so we didn't see any, but it could be different in the high season?
Matts, I could shop if I needed something... but we already have bath towels and hats and sunglasses...
18 July 2015 - 19:35
Mr Steve says:
It's probably good to sometimes think about what's behind all the annoying things you see.
35°C with you, here it is 16°C right now.
18 July 2015 - 19:54
Ditte says:
Of course, these vendors are annoying. In Torre they exist, but on a small scale. They are not really annoying and they do not move much on the beaches. They sometimes sit along the seafront unless the police chase them away. It seems that the municipalities/towns themselves can decide whether they want the vendors there or not. In southern Spain they seem to be more numerous. I had no idea that they also existed in Sardinia. But not in Corsica, or...?
18 July 2015 - 21:40
admin says:
Steve, I can't believe how cold it is in Sweden this summer! Hope for a warmer August!
Ditte, there are plenty of vendors here, and we haven't seen anyone chasing them away. In Corsica we didn't see a single one (although we were there a bit earlier in the season, but still).
18 July 2015 - 23:20
Alexandra says:
Yes, I want to remember that we encountered such beach vendors in Spain... In some other places too, including Tunisia. However, I have no major problems with it, of course it can be a bit hard sometimes, but it is probably harder for them to be forced to go there day in and day out, they will not earn any huge sums of money from it. I am still lucky enough to have the opportunity to go there on holiday. 🙂
18 July 2015 - 23:35
admin says:
Alexandra, that's right! I can only agree! We certainly have a much simpler life than they do. And that's why we started thinking about what their situation really looks like ...
19 July 2015 - 8:29
Marina says:
I can only agree! It's quite ok if they can at least take no for an answer. The absolute worst place I have experienced so far when it comes to beach vendors is probably Kuta Beach in Bali, they never give up!
19 July 2015 - 8:46
Ama de casa says:
It's also full of sellers - and it's definitely organised! From time to time, the police get tough to get rid of them. But they keep coming back.
I DON'T like them, because they are very much in the way when they spread their sheets on the seafront. In addition, they are quite pushy sometimes - and LOTS of them!
At the same time, I think they are actually just trying to find a way to make a living.
It's the same dilemma as with begging...
19 July 2015 - 9:34
Ama de casa says:
en: So Peter is sketching? Exciting... My lips are sealed... 😀.
19 July 2015 - 10:22
Lena & Jan says:
Not fun to pack up the stuff in that heat, here at home the body thermostat says off already at 24 °. Hugs
19 July 2015 - 11:25
snort says:
Stubborn and nagging beach vendors make me very annoyed. There may well be a kiosk or a shop, but this constant nagging is a disturbing...
19 July 2015 - 11:33
admin says:
Marina, yes, it's hard when they nag. I understand that they want to sell and feel sorry that they may have a tough situation, but it is completely impossible to buy a lot of stuff once every 15 minutes....
Ama de casa, I can also understand that they have a tough situation, and certainly much harder than us who can lie around and be lazy. At the same time, it's hard when they don't leave you alone. There are an unusual number of people here, and I haven't seen anyone driving them away. And yep, there is a lot of sketching going on here... 😉.
Lena & Jan, you can hardly do anything at all in this heat, so going and selling must be hard. Maybe they are more used to the heat than we are, but still? Some choose to walk around dressed in jeans, which for me feels very sweaty ...
Znogge, yes or if they just stand at the entrance to the beach or something, then you can look at the jewellery if you want. But it's hard when someone comes along every quarter of an hour and starts nagging...
19 July 2015 - 17:17
Steel city anna says:
You are probably a little extra vulnerable where you lie half-naked on the beach too! I could buy something just to be left alone. Surely more people think that way.
19 July 2015 - 19:40