GREAT WORLD MARKETS…EUROPE

The first thing I learned when I hit the road In 1974 was that the most interesting thing about travel was the people. The second thing I learned was that the best place to see the people was in the markets.

I grew so fond of markets, that I have been known to mount an entire expedition just to be able to attend one unique market. Getting to the Tolkuchka Bazaar in Turkmenistan involved traveling half way around the world, jumping through the most complex set of bureaucratic hoops I’ve ever come up against, and then having to deal with the strangest country in the world and its bizarre citizens.

To see the Great Sunday Market in Xinjiang Province, China, I had to fly 5 hours east of Beijing to Urumqi – the world’s most landlocked city. From there it was another 2 hour flight to Kashgar, an isolated Uighur community buried in the Taklamakan Desert. In this case, it was worth it.

To get to the Floating Market of Banjarmasin, I had to fly all the way to Java, and then over to Kalimantan – the Indonesian half of the Island of Borneo. I then had to spend three nights in Banjarmasin – a filthy, sweltering city with nothing to recommend it.

Cajamarca, Peru involved flying two hours north of Lima – in exactly the opposite direction of that taken by most tourists. The town, despite being every bit as attractive and interesting as Cuzco, was completely untouched by tourism. But, what really drew me in was the fact that the entire population was decked out in huge, floppy sombreros.

To see the Guambiano Indian Market in Sylvia, Colombia, I had to visit a dangerous country which I had been reluctant to previously attempt, and then fly from Bogota to Popayan, a place located in the most dangerous part of that dangerous country.

So, you must get the idea. I’m crazy about markets.

EUROPE

I’ll start with Europe. While not nearly as exotic as markets located farther to the South or East, European markets can challenge any market in the world for the sheer color and variety of the items on offer. In fact, when it comes to Europe, it’s the food that is the main focus. First prize has to go to Barcelona’s Mercat de la Boqueria. Located just off Las Ramblas, the Mercat’s array of vegetables, fruit, and fish is probably unmatched anywhere in the world. Fruit and vegetables so fresh and bright that it practically shimmers. Fantastic fish and crustaceans dredged off of the open depths are piled toward the ceiling. The exotic fruits and vegetables would make any vegetarian salivate.

 

The weekly markets of Provence in the South of France offer beautifully displayed gourmet items that can be found nowhere else.

Nothing conjures up the classic European experience more than the incredible array of cheeses, sausages, vegetables and wines that one will experience on any weekend in the South of France. It’s hard to imagine a more perfect display of outright decadence. But, this is France – and no people in the world are more serious about food than the French.

Italy is well-known for its raucous fish and vegetable markets – the more exotic, the farther south one travels. The markets of Sicily begin to resemble North African souqs. For the Italians, the more bizarre and outlandish the fish, the better.

The farther east one travels, the more unusual become the offerings. Budapest Market is full of typical Hungarian peppers and paprika.

The market in Riga, Latvia seems almost too big for this medium-sized Baltic city – with enough fish and produce to amply supply a city twice its size.

The main market in Helsinki, Finland is conveniently located at the waterfront, and is full of all the products one would expect in a clean, cold Scandinavian country.

The markets in the extreme southeast have a different flavor because of the Muslim influence. Skopje, Macedonia offers an array of spices and condiments not seen in the west.

So that completes a brief survey of European Food Markets. Of course, I cannot begin to cover the majority of the markets. Suffice it to say that almost every town in Europe has one, and it’s likely to be the town’s center of activity and interest. Do yourself a favor and spend time in the markets.