We've got a small public market in our neighborhood, just a few minutes from our door. It occupies the ground floor of a contemporary building that you wouldn't give a second look. However, once San Geraldo did (give it a second look), he added it to his regular grocery routine. Once again, some of the most delicious fruit and vegetables we have ever tasted. Of course, there are butchers, fish sellers, and cheese and flower shops. But, today, it's all about the fruit.
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| ANA CRESPILLO FRUIT SELLERS. SO MUCH FRIENDLIER THAN A CHAIN STORE. |
There's a large public market in the center of Fuengirola. But that's about a 20- to 25-minute walk. Every Tuesday, there's a huge public market at the Fair Grounds, but that's about a 15-minute walk, and certainly not as neighborly. San Geraldo asked me to come along with him this morning so that I could take home what he bought before he headed directly to the supermarket. It worked out so well that it will be our new routine. For me, it was almost like cooking (except for the unpleasant parts).
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INSIDE OUR MARKET, A MOSAIC OF FUENGIROLA.
FAR LEFT: THE ROMAN RUINS THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM OUR TERRACE. |
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FAR RIGHT: SOHAIL CASTLE AT THE OTHER END OF TOWN.
NUESTRA SEÑORA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN (REMEMBER HER?) ANCHORS THE MOSAIC. |
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| SAN GERALDO IS IN THE DISTANCE ON THE LEFT, STILL CHECKING OUT THE FRUIT. |
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| SAN GERALDO LOADING A BAG WITH CHERRIES. |
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"SMELL THEM," SHE SAID, AS SAN GERALDO EYED THE MANGOS.
AND, OF COURSE, ONE MANGO CAME HOME WITH US. |
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LUNCHTIME DESSERT: WHAT SAN GERALDO DID WITH THAT MANGO
AND A PIEL DE SAPO (TOAD'S SKIN) MELON. |
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| I NEVER WAS A BIG FAN OF CHERRIES. THAT CHANGED WHEN WE MOVED TO SPAIN. |
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| TODAY'S EVENING SNACK WITH MEDJOOL DATES. |
Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom!
You and your cute little video clips to go with your posts-- always clever!
ReplyDeleteIsn't the fresh fruit a wonderful part of summer weather!? Having a local fresh market to buy at is such a treat, too. Yumm!
Judeet:
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather actually owned a produce store in New York until around 1960. He didn't smile like our neighbors do. I think my grandmother spent a lot time making up to the customers.
Salivating from just seeing the photos. And that Little Richard i so appropriate
ReplyDeletePeter:
DeleteI almost used a "Queen" performance of "Tutti Frutti," but decided to stick with the original.
Trying to catch up with you guys; you definitely have too much fun. The new Walmart ad shows an intimate produce market like the one in your photos except it's phony and declares, "Can you believe this came from Walmart?" So even the big chains admit the little guy is better - I prefer my own garden or a farmers market, but I can't grow those delicious fruits. You guys have too much fun!
ReplyDeleteFrank:
DeleteWelcome home. Hope you had a great time. So glad there's no Walmart here!
I love fruit ~~ cherries in particular (Bings)along with everything else. Those dates with apples/cheese and crackers, a definite YES!!
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteLike I said, I never really enjoyed cherries before. Fresh Spanish cherries have made me a believer. We had good Medjool dates in California. These are incredible. San Geraldo feeds me well.
As much as I loved seeing the fruit, I loved seeing the market with the tile walls even more. Makes me think of the Triana Market and the beautiful tile there. Homesick? who, me?
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteTriana Market is still my favorite. Huge. Quality. And a beautiful historic building and location. I could spend hours there. Home sick? Come back!!!
As usual your great pictures and commentary make me want to show up on your doorstep.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteIt would be a privilege!!!
Spain is known for its produce. They send a lot of it up here to France, but I suspect (as evidenced by your photos) they keep the best stuff at home. We tend not to buy the Spanish stuff when there's more local produce available, mostly because the products we get from Spain were grown to be shipped and don't necessarily travel well.
ReplyDeleteI think that cheese-cracker-apple-and-date snack is calling out to me!
Walt the Fourth:
DeleteMost of it is grown right nearby, so we get the freshest. Some of the fruit and vegetables I've had here are the best I've ever tasted. That snack, in some variety, is a daily treat served up by San Geraldo. I'll never go hungry.
Nearly every English person I've heard who goes on holiday to the continent would agree how fruit and veg taste so much better than they do over here - the latter being so bland that sometimes you've got to check exactly what it is that you're eating. Do you find that they taste superior to American produce? These in your market look so mouth-watering that my tummy's just started rumbling.
ReplyDeleteRaybeard:
DeleteAt first, I thought my love of Spanish produce was just due to my Spanish bias overall. But Jerry agrees. Some of the most flavorful fruit and vegetables we've ever tasted. Best bananas, by far. Cherries? Like I said, I never liked them much before. Living in Southern California for so many years, we had very good avocados, mangos, and other tropicals. Still, nothing like what we've had here. South Dakota is the perfect climate for tomatoes, so Jerry was never happy with the tomatoes he had elsewhere. He says our Spanish tomatoes taste as good as South Dakota tomatoes. That's high praise.
Beautiful pictures! I'm driving back to our cottage at Lake Chautauqua today and it's very near the wonderful fruit belt along the southern shores of Lake Erie. The cherries there are fabulous, especially when you pick them from the tree and eat them instantly.
ReplyDeleteKristi:
DeleteI just checked out Lake Chautauqua on Maps. What a location!
I've never had a cherry picked fresh from anyone's tree. My parents, city people learning their way around a suburban garden, planted a cherry tree when I was little. The birds loved it.
Wow, while my internet service was out, you have been posing like crazy! One of my favorite things to do wherever I travel is to visit local grocery stores. I love them. I really appreciate visiting yours with you--even if it's vicariously.
ReplyDeleteMs Sparrow:
DeleteI thought you were just busy! Sure did miss you. I kept posting to see if I could get your attention! Glad your service is back.