We had been told that Spanish markets are the place to go to buy our fruit & veg. When I stumbled into Pulpi market last Wednesday, I was really quite disappointed that it was only the clothing, shoes, bags, linen etc market - no food that I could see.
However, one of our new neighbours told me that on Friday's the market is at Garrucha, about 20 minutes away - and it is a big market, worth going to see - so, duly informed, we all set off to see if we could find the market last Friday.
In Spain, well certanly in this area, the market is mobile and so we know there is a market in Aguilas and Arboleas on Saturdays, Friday is Garrucha, Wednesday is Pulip, Tuesday is Albox - so really any day there is a market somewhere. I understand ours is on a Sunday, but only in the summer and this year we may have to go without as the place it's usually held is almost unaccessible because of the work being done on the new road.
Anyway, we set off to Garrucha with the following instructions: head for the Port and then look up the side streets and we couldn't fail to find the market. If we went a couple more blocks along the main street we would find Annie's Place, where we could get a good all day full english breakfast.
When we reached Garrucha we could tell it was market day by the sheer volume of traffic, there was no where to park, but true enough we could see the market up several side streets, just couldn't park anywhere near it. By the time we found a place we were almost in Mojacar!
The market takes over several street, they are just closed off to traffic. Garrucha market is laid out over 2 adjacent streets - and stretches on for ever. The first section we came across was the fruit and veg and it was spectacular. It was incredibly busy and not easy to walk through but it all looked fabulous. After that we came across the meat stalls, which take a lot of looking at as there us so much on them.
Up to the next street and we were on the clothing, shoes & linen markets which stretched all the way back to where we had started. There were lots of duplicate stalls and however you decide which stall to buy from is a bit of a mystery to me at the moment, but I'm sure I'll suss it out.
There's no question, visitors who enjoy shopping will definitely be getting a trip to Garrucha market - even if they don't enjoy shopping, they will enjoy the experience.
And, of course, on the way back we stopped at Annie's Place and had a full english breakfast - it seemed a long time since we had left the villa that morning and we had walked miles (or so it seemed)!
2 comments:
Have you been here long enough to notice that the tomoatoes are horrible, don't know why but the only decent tomatos you can get are from holland. Wierd
One other thing you notice about markets is the amount of mess left behind, coming from Germany it was quite a shock, Germans are, to say the least, quite anal about the proper handling of garbage. Spanish on the other hand, anywhere within 10 feet of the bin is close enough:)
about halfway through your blog, enjoying seeing the view from the coast.
Rob in Madrid
We had noticed the amount of rubbish once the markets have left but here in San Juan they are incredibly good at getting the street cleaners in to clear it all up so within an hour everywhere is spotless, the same with the beach each night.
Maybe the Spanish are used to the official cleaners being brought in so they don't see a need to be so particular themselves.
I'm so glad you are enjoying reading this, I love writing it.
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