A front view of the busy La Boqueria. The sign and building were done in Barcelona’s famous Modernista art style.
What a place… a kaleidoscope of colors, smells, noises and textures– an imagination gone wild. I walked into the Boqueria Market just off of Barcelona’s Ramblas (most famous street and pedestrian way in Barcelona) and I was captured; enthralled may be a better word. I could have spent a week alone with the fish. There were fruits and vegetables and breads and nuts and meats and drinks… not to mention some 200 square feet of chocolate delights! Who wouldn’t go crazy? Imagine going here to shop instead of your local Safeway or Wal-Mart.
La Boqueria is first mentioned in Barcelona literature in 1217. It may have started as a goat market. The market arrived at its present location in 1835 when St. Josephs Convent burned down. Today it is one of Europe’s best known fresh produce markets, a favorite of both locals and travelers… especially travelers with cameras. One stall owner even yelled at me, “No, no take pictures. Buy.” I could empathize… but I could no more not take photos than refuse to breathe.
Peggy spent what seemed like hours checking out the 200 square feet of chocolate wonders…
… while I was intrigued by the strange fish. This one had a face only its mother could love.
I promptly named this guy Jaws.
Squid, anyone?
I found these shrimp colorful…
… and these, uh, weird.
I found most photos on the web featured fruit stalls like this at La Boqueria rather than my fish. I wonder why? (Photo by Peggy Mekemson… Peggy does not take photos of weird fish)
Being a big fan of spicy food, I found these peppers quite attractive.
I also liked the hanging garlic and corn.
Several types of mushrooms were for sale. I believe these were morels. They grow up behind our house in Oregon. People kill for them.
Fresh fruit drinks were in abundance. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)
Peggy’s brother John joyfully downed a raw oyster. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)
I’ll close with my own obligatory photo of fruit at La Boqueria. Can you taste the strawberries?
NEXT BLOG: We journey to the incredibly beautiful and strange cathedral, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. You will not want to miss this blog.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Sagrada Familia must be one of my favourite places. Anywhere. Ever. Especially the interior – just breathtaking!
I’ve read of someone who didn’t bother to go inside – didn’t want to stand in line!
Great market shots. Don’t know why we didn’t go to La Boqueria, but our host, a long-time family friend who lives there, took us to the local market in her suburb so I have some very similar shots.
Love the fish heads!
I am with you on Sagrada Familia… As for the market, I was fascinated… Peggy had a hard time getting me out.
Great post, Curt! Your pictures captured the mood, feelings and atmosphere of the place. I love Spanish markets and I normally drool at the sight of the seafoods that I would like to cook in my kitchen. 😉
Thanks… my niece runs farmers’ markets in the San Diego area, which are more or less the American equivalent. They are always fun and full of fresh produce, but they can’t match up to something like the Boqueira.
Those morels… I would kill for them. I grew up with them in Iowa. You can find them in parts of the eastern half of the state. Simplicity is the key – dredged in flour, salt and pepper, and sautéd in real butter. Oh, my.
Markets are the best. We have nothing – NOTHING – to compare even to Austin, let alone San Diego, Barcelona, etc. But I do have a source for fresh strawberries and veggies in season, so it’s all right.
Great photos – but what is that… uh… oozy stuff? For the time being, I’m pretending it’s melting caramel.
I am not sure I want to know what the oozy stuff is… I am not sure I want to know what the oozy stuff is… but is was alive. Curt
Do note that I bought at least 24 different kinds of chocolate delights! I was in heaven!
And do you think she would share? (grin)
I will also kill for those models! Again, great pictorial and the close-ups were fun…and I bet my cousin in Hiroshima would eat all of those ocean “things”. 🙂
People looked at me a little strange when I was snuggling up to the fish heads with my camera, Koji.
Lol. And spell check got me again. I meant morels. 🙂
Wow what a treat for all the senses.. I would get here and spend hours ( and many bucks) as it would be hard to resist so many wonderful things.. My company has an office in Barcelona and it looks like a visit there may need to be arranged…
Yes, yes, yes! Head for Barcelona Lynne. It is on my top three list for the trip.
Curt
Wow this looks amazing! I want to go there immediately…so much enticing looking food, great photos!
Thanks. 🙂
Erggggh…. And this would be why I somehow grew up vegetarian, lol! Raw seafood everywhere. 🙂 I’ll stick with those wonderful fruit drinks, yum!
Ah, come on FeyGirl, can’t you just picture yourself chomping down on squirmy sushi? (grin)
Errrrgh. Errrrgh. I used to come hope to a dead squid, octopus, you name it on the table. Nope. Nope. NOPE.
Grin…