LA BOCHERIA MARKET
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First records confirming the presence of meat stalls on this site date back to 1217, these markets consisted of temporary stalls in the open air, many of them set up by farmers from the villages surrounding Barcelona, who came to sell their wares in the city.
About two thirds of the way up Las Ramblas towards Placa de Catalunya on the left, you will see one of Europe's largest and most famous food markets. This is a place to spend an hour or so feasting the senses and Boqueria's grand iron entrance leads to a fully functioning world of food that throngs with both tourists and locals. The floors are slippery with melted ice, fruit skins and other less savoury ingredients, the stall holders are loud but this all adds to the charm of the experience. It may take a boost of confidence to actually engage in a purchase as all interactions have a sense of urgency about them but the stall holders are aware of the income that tourists generate and so will cut you a little slack if your Spanish is a not up to par. There are "Tapas like" bars where food and drink can be purchased and the most famous of these bars is El Pinotxo, just to the right after the entrance. However, if you struggle to find one of the coveted high-stools here, rest assured that the bars further towards the back of the market are of equal quality and less contested for seating. Foods are priced similarly to a quality restaurant which can seem absurd, as a man carrying a pig carcass passes right underneath your nose, but it also serves to remind you of the freshness of the produce on offer. If the sight of various limbs of animals displayed like decorations offends the vegetarians amongst you then the fruit stalls throughout the market sell freshly squeezed fruit juices of many different varieties - a healthy and refreshing treat in the middle of the mayhem. We purchased some fresh crusty breads and a few different cheeses to have with our "vino tinto" on the balcony of out hotel overlooking Placa de Catalunya. |
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