Tues, Thursday, Saturday Market

I just got back from the most wonderful market ever. I wish that I had these types of markets near me in America (Dekalb is close but no cigar). I guess we are getting closer to that with our farmer’s markets, but it is still nothing to compare. I am not quite sure how I missed this market, twice, this week. It is HUGE. I got near the square and there were trucks everywhere, I knew I was there. People were setting up their stands and had everything from cloth to clothes and shoes to pottery, there was even one vender with kitchen accessories (nothing I did not already have). They had some amazing mugs and plates, but they were a bit expensive and how am I going to get them to the US?



I continued on, surprised this was the big market of the town; then I saw it, the grocery section. It took up the whole square and venders were everywhere. There was honey, lavender, vanilla beans, tomatoes, veggies, fruits, rotisserie chicken, sausages, cheeses, olives, breads, everything you can think of. I set off for my “tour of the market.” This is basically my first go around of the market, looking at what there is to offer and the prices. I already had chicken so I crossed the delicious smelling food off of my list, I passed by a hummus/olive/greek place and crossed that off due to my pastry yesterday. There was a vender frying up chicken and (maybe) Indian food, it smelled god but I wanted to avoid the fried section.



I picked up some bread and melon to start. The vender for the melon was very nice, although I think he was saying that he would pick me out a melon, but I was not sure and picked one out myself. I am still not sure what produce you can get and they get for you, they are all laid out so why not melon? He cut it in two for me and I was off to look for more goodies.



At the daily market, I had tried some black olive puree, or something like it. It was on a small piece of bread and was very good. I decided to get some today but had no idea how to order it. I walked by one olive stand and they did not have the kind I wanted. I went to another and slowly strolled past trying to think of what to say. Nobody was there so it did not matter too much. I walked back when I saw a man talking to the vender, I was going to listen to him, but they were just chatting. I was up. I order a very small amount of it and got a heaping tablespoon. Now, this may not sound like a lot, but it is. Think of eating that much caviar at once or something, it is just not meant to be. It was less than a tenth of a pound and I got it, hoping I had enough bread.

The main dish, near the hummus guy there was someone selling breads and pizza like items that looked good and was pretty affordable. The guy was on the phone and I was not sure if I could handle a pastry dish cheese filled and topped with something meal. I saw one was tomatoes and one was supposed to be spinach, but it looked more like fish. I forget what the third one was and decided to keep walking. I got to the meat stand and decided I should try some sausage. Now, let me preface this with, I am not a sausage person. I never ate it until this past year when I would get the crappy sausage that comes with breakfast, that I was okay with. Anyway, I ordered a piece and hoped it would be just as good. I made my way to the park at the American Center and sat down on a bench.



It was time to try the sausage…I got out my knife and fork from the other day and sliced a piece, or tried to. There were chunks of meat in it. I closed my eyes and went for it – I had to force it down and yell at myself not to throw it up; so much for my main course. I have to say, I am quite impressed with all of the food and my likings up until this point. I wrapped the sausage back up and decided to give it to some homeless person later on. I enjoyed a relaxing and breezy breakfast (earliest yet!) in the park and then spent my time reading in the sun.