Market, Lunch and Tapas

Just having a cafe cortado (espresso with a little milk) on my way to the farmers' market. The market is everyday 10:00 to 2:00, except Sunday.

Everything, including the farmers's market is closed on Sundays except cafes and restaurants. All cafes have beer and liquor. If you order beer you usually get a tapa included - see more below regarding tapas.

All manner of fruits and vegetables, bread, pastries, eggs, fresh meat, cheese, jamon (ham) of every description...sliced, sausage, salami, is for sale at the farmers' market. More about ham, since it is such a big topic all of it's own, another time.

Almost half the market is fish stalls. No vendors with prepared food.

Most days I go to the market myself while Elaine is working from the apartment. Today I bought bananas, garlic, green pepper, leeks, tomatoes, shrimp, calamari , sole,  ginger and jamon.  Making a fish stew for tonight. We usually prepare supper at our apartment.

In Spain most people have their main meal mid- day, we still tend to eat late between 8:00 and 9:00.

Many restaurants have menu del dia (meal of the day) for $10-14 that includes appetizer (soup, salad, other small dish), main course and dessert, and often one drink.

Yesterday we had lunch/dinner with 9 people  including ourselves, Chris and Barbara, and their friend Pam who Barbara has known since her time in Quebec in the 70's, plus two other couples from Oslo, Norway. One couple started coming to this part of Spain in the 80's. We are beginning to appreciate just how many people are here from other European countries..Britain, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Scandinavia..on a regular basis.

Here tapas are a snack you get with your drink. Today, Sunday, we went out for a coffee then decided to walk for a bit and ended up for a beer and wine at a place we had been to previously with Chris to watch soccer. Along with the drinks, they brought a paella plate and then one of ham. After that we ordered another wine which came with a Spanish omelette (egg and potato) for two, and so another wine plus a cafe for me and so it goes. Two small desserts (tiramisu) came with the wine and when I paid the bill, $16 total..one beer, three wine, one cafe, no charge for food. So we arrived home, feeling fine, with no need for supper!


See photos of some of today's tapas - the paella has mussels, small clams and pork.

David (not Elaine)