Markets are my favorite way to sample a slice of local living. It’s where you can buy local produce, homemade products, clothing, crafts, and my favorite, the things that just don’t fit in to any category.
When we travel, we always sniff out the local market. I’ve listed our top 10 family favorites, and why we liked them, but we could have easily done a top 25. Keep in mind that these are the girl’s favorites. Many of my top market experiences were not amusing enough to make the list, such as buying amber in Gdansk, the baked goods sold in the markets of Berlin, the flea markets in Rome and Paris, The Central Market in Athens. With the exception of the first one (because they weren’t born), here are the girls’ favorite markets.
Iron Market, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
I start with the first international market we visited, the Iron Market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We were studying in Haiti for four months with a group from our college. Going to the Iron Market was our very first date in February of 1985. We went to Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch (with little emaciated one bite chicken legs), trying to outsmart the street kids with their sticky fingers, bartered with the local vendors, and made our way home with huge woven banana leaf baskets. Perhaps a foreshadowing of things to come later in life.
St. Jacob’s Farmers Market, Ontario, Canada
Our local market in Canada, the St. Jacob’s Farmer’s Market in Southern Ontario, is where our love of markets was born. We would go there Saturday mornings to enjoy a sausage and pancakes breakfast, and pick up local veggies for the week. Whichever kid came along, would always find some little treasure to bring home. There is a large Amish community surrounding the market. Some will sell their produce at the market.
Rialto Bridge Market, Venice, Italy
We have been to Venice quite a few times because it’s one of the favorite cities or our oldest daughter. Whenever we are there, we never forget to visit one of the most romantic market settings we’ve ever been to was on the Rialto Bridge in Venice. Our middle daughter got a little dog figurine from there, and aways remembers where it’s from. Each girl also got a Venician mask from that market.
Uzes Market, Provence, France
In Provence is in Uzes, France, no contest. Imagine a market with big bunches of sunflowers and lavender, tables full of baskets, fresh baguettes, cheeses, ceramics for sale in booths woven into the old town’s winding streets. There is a flea market section as well. It’s a magical little experience. We go early and have coffee and pan chocolate by the fountain and linger for hours, eating and finding little treasures to take home with us.
Market on Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain
In Barcelona we went to an amazing market on Las Ramblas. The vendors were in groupings. We walked through a pet section, a flower section, an art section, a busker section. Very civilized.
Covent Garden Market, London, England
This market is set in a beautiful architectural setting. The girls were enthralled with the buskers at this market. They set up for shows out in front and inside. You can sit and enjoy the show while munching on some fresh local goodies.
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Comprised of thousands of market stalls selling everything from spices to jewelry, metalware to rugs. It is a crazy experience, this one. You feel like you are in a different world, because you are. We bought necklaces here for great prices, but my favorite stalls were the ones selling spices.
Pezanas Market, France
We enjoyed this market because it set in among quaint winding little alllyways of cobblestoned walkways. The live music takes place in a main area where you can eat in an outdoor cafe. The best moule frite I have had anywhere in the world was in one of these little restaurants. There was one store that had a unique selection of dragons that our oldest daughter enjoyed. I enjoyed one store in particular off of the main open area, which was selling art that was a good price. The girls were amused with a hemp clothing and bag store, saying if you ever got tired of your clothes, you could always smoke them.
Straw Market, Nassau, Bahamas
The girls enjoyed this market because of it’s unique tropical focus. After wandering the isles, they settled on little banana leaf woven purses. They waited while the woman embroidered their names on the bag in yarn.
Chichicastenango, Guatemala
In Guatemala, the market was an entirely different experience, but one I enjoyed it in a different way. The indigenous women came in from the mountains to sell their handicrafts or produce on market day. Some would set up little food booths with plastic stools lining basic wooden tables. People could get a tasty homemade meals for literally pennies. The little children are running around the aisles, there’s always an upbeat festive feeling at the market. What is different in developing countries is that you likely won’t be able to visit a market without some intense hounding (that’s the nice way of putting it). Not everyone has a stomach for it. Also remember to go home and clean any fruit or veggie you buy at the market before eating it (unless it has a peel, of course).
Biggest market in Guatemala is Chichicastenango. This market is especially well known for its textiles, quilts, bags. Wind your way through the little stalls to big white church in the center. There will be many women selling flowers on the stairs, which, great place to take pictures. The flowers all have different meanings, and therefore different requests. People will buy those to take into the church to leave as a both an offering and prayer request.
If you are into photography, markets provide a concentration of foto snapping variety. Keep in mind some of the poorer cultures will expect compensation if they agree to be subjects. Always ask.
Grab your market bag and go.