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 