Marbella 2012

Every day, the miles of seafront around Marbella is inundated with Africans who come to sell knock-off bags, watches, sunglasses- whatever your logo-crazed heart desires. Some of them set up and wait (below), while others, like the guys above, wander around carrying armloads of goods, approaching any potential customer.

They're not aggressive, but if you stop to inspect the merchandise, they'll always start the haggling process.

 

I know they break all the rules, but having spent half my life doing the same thing (different set of rules though) I'm not going to berate them for it. In fact, I admire them for their tenacity. They work hard. They're there every day and most of the evenings too, only packing up when the last tourist has wandered off to their warm bed.

Every so often, the police cruise along the seafront, triggering a mass evacuation off the front, onto the beach. But I've never seen them actually book anyone. I'm sure the cops are paying lip-service to the law. I bet there's way too much paper work involved for them to actually take anyone away.

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I know they're illegal, but as far as I can see, it's a victimless crime. The punters who buy these purses were never going to spring for a genuine Prada or Chanel bag. By the way, have you seen the price of an original designer purse? Those big names have a lot of nerve, calling these guys rip-off merchants.

And in the meantime, maybe some poor kid in Africa gets to eat a decent meal and go to school.