La Boqueria markets, Barcelona
When it comes to Spain, there seems to be nothing more important than food. Every meal becomes a feast – a long rambling expedition down a path of courses, helped along with many a glass of wine. But it’s not just the quantity which is important… quality is a vital factor in the enjoyment of these meals. And that’s why the markets are so important to the Spanish.
Here in Barcelona, the most famous of all the markets is La Boqueira, just off the main street of La Rambla. Over the years, it has become more of an attraction for tourists and the actual commerce of the city has increasingly moved away. But in the early mornings, before the crowds descend, the chefs and restauranteurs of Barcelona still come to La Boqueira for much of their produce.
Today I have joined the tourist crowds and the casual Spanish shoppers, in the sense that the professional marketeers have been gone for hours. I’m staying in an apartment in Barcelona with accommodation website HouseTrip, and we are trying to live like locals. Hence the market experience.
There are hundreds of stalls here, selling fish, meat, cheese, fruit vegetables and more. Occasionally one jumps out at me – the shop selling snails, or the vibrant colours of the lollies.
Here, in this photo essay, you can get a taste of what it is like to wander through the labyrinth of the undercover markets amongst the smells, sights and tastes of the ingredients of Spain.
Time Travel Turtle was a guest of accommodation website HouseTrip and Context Travel Tours but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.
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Turtle, like the name suggests, likes to take things slowly. Luckily that's one of the best ways to see the world - and that's exactly what he's doing at the moment.
This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.
16 Responses
Love La Boqueria! here’s my version
http://www.pointsandtravel.com/barcelona-spain-sweet-and-salty-at-la-boqueria-and-beyond/
pointsandtravel recently posted..Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain – Chefchaouen, Morocco
Thanks for sharing. It’s a really interesting place – with so many sights and sounds!
Time and money would never hold out for me in such a fab market!
Maria recently posted..Garage Imp
Ha ha – yeah, it is very hard not to eat a little bit of everything. All the food looks so good. The cheese… the ham… the fruits… the lollies. Yum. Maybe not the snails, though
I LOVE photos of markets around the world, and I love the way that you have captured not only the food at the market in these photos, but the people as well. Great job!
Shanna Schultz recently posted..Holland America Dining: Tamarind
The people were some of the most interesting things!!
One of my favourite places to go to in Barcelona. Best tip, head there around noon wander around the colourful and varied stalls. Check out the amazing Fish market area. Then eat in one of the places on the edge of the market. You are spolit for choice.
If you need an obscure ingredient and live in Barcelona you´ll find it here.
That’s a great tip! I wish I could have spent a bit more time there trying some of the different restaurants and cafes. The fish market area was really cool, though. I agree.
I absolutely LOVED La Boqueria and its colors, I bought my fruit-based dinner there every evening!
Angela recently posted..Exploring beautiful, medieval, shady Viterbo
Oh yeah, it would’ve been the best place to get fruit. Even though (as I mentioned) it can be a bit touristy these days, it still has a great selection of food – including the fruits, of course.
Easily the thing I loved most about Barcelona…hope to be back soon.
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort
Barcelona is one of those cities you can just keep going back to, over and over again.
I love markets, and La Boquería sounds like the holy grail! It’s top of my list for whenever I’m next in Spain.
Emily in Chile recently posted..The joys of business travel
If you’re in Spain then you have to go. It’s definitely worth it!
Markets are pretty much my favorite aspect of a new city. To see the stuff on offer says a lot about the locals and how they live.
Andrew recently posted..Applewine Tavern Lunch in Frankfurt
I just love markets for the colours and the activity! There’s always so much going on. But, of course, you’re right that they are a great place to get in touch with the local culture too.