What is 'un mantero'? What is 'top manta'?
Muchos emigrantes que llegan a España, desde Africa o de otras partes, se decican al top manta para vivir. Se les llama manteros, tal vez porque todo lo que venden está a la vista en el suelo encima de una manta.
Many migrants who arrive in Spain, from Africa and other places, sell goods in the street in order to survive. These goods are displayed on the floor on a blanket. In Spanish, the word for blanket is 'manta' so it is likely that the expression 'top manta' came from this selling style.
The 'manteros' work with someone who keeps an eye and warns them when the police is close by. Then, they quickly fold the blankets with the goods inside and run away. This type of selling is not regulated so sellers can get into trouble if they are cought.
What they sell:
When they started they sold illegal copies of Cds, DVDs and sport goods and t-shirts; later they added all sort of items from leather goods like handbags, wallets to jewlery, watches & perfumes etc.
Qué venden:
Al principio vendían copias ilegales de cedes y dvds, camisetas de deporte etc. más adelante ampliaron el surtido con artículos de imitación de piel desde bolsos y carteras hasta bisutería, relojes o perfumes.
EXPRESSIONS:
- dedicarse al top manta:
En España muchos emigrantes sin papeles se dedican al top manta.
- los top manta: Cuando se acerca la policía los top manda salen corriendo con la manta y la mercancía al hombro
(When the police comes the sellers take off with the blankets on their shoulders)
- mantero: los manteros son inmigrantes que venden en la calle ilegalmente.
(Manteros are migrants who sell illegally on the street)
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