Art, food and street life are the three things I want to explore when I travel. They are three variations of expressions of people and their culture I want to learn.
In a few TV cooking shows, I learned about Barcelona La Boqueria Market, I could not wait to go down Las Ramblas to visit this open market as soon as I arrived in Barcelona. I was hit with a profusion of colors, aromas and flavors to which was hard to resist. Inside La Boqueria market, I spent a few hours ” A Ramblear” as locals would say, getting lost in food heaven, looking, learning, tasting and taking photos. It is an open street market, covered with a hard canopy, sun or rain don’t seem to bother people or activities and the variations of one or another are so interesting.
Everything I had heard about La Boqueria market was true. Colors and flavors were so vibrant and inviting I didn’t want to leave. Many curiosity filled my eyes and my camera, picture after picture flowed like water in a river and I also tasted an incredible amount of food. The Jamon Ibérico with a flavor of juniper berry was delicious, hoof or no hoof, and I really enjoyed the various ice creams with a chili pepper kick mixed in with the flavor of the ice cream. What a treat !!!
The choice of tapas variations prepared at all the bars was infinite, the aromas were irresistible, try eggs and cuttlefish, of my, what a variation on the egg dish! The wine……that’s another story, as a tourists drinking at hours normally not conceived for drinking, was so liberating. At La Boqueria I felt at ease, regardless of all the noises, people are friendly. I speak Spanish and that helps enjoying the market in its fullest.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).
Above: Dry peppers of many colors and heat spice up the area.
Above: Xorico Sauces in many colors, flavors and texture.
Above: Sangria in bulls, in flamenco dancers and in toreadors shaped bottles.
Above: Jamon Bellota with a hoof on a Jamonero ham holder, a typic gadget of Spain.
Above: Jamon Ibérico with pata negra (black hoof).
Life is full of variations, explore them and don’t be afraid to try something awkward. Ciao.
Valentina
https://valentinaexpressions.com/trips-to-puglia-2
Copyright © 2018 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved
As a writer and cultural promoter of Puglia, her native land, Valentina’s intention is to let readers feel and experience a new ”wheel of emotions”. She wants to encourage them to visit areas of Italy not beaten by massive tourism. Through stories of local customs, art, architecture, fashion, food-wines, shopping, she wants them to create their special adventures and live it up in Puglia! Check out her books on
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