After a leisurely start to the day, including some pastries for breakfast, we set forth to the bus stop to make our way to the indoor food market. We’d been recommended to go hear by many people, and so it was too good to ignore.
Making use of Google Maps for the bus routes is a great help, and a holiday tip at that! And for 1 EUR 50 each, we were soon at our destination.
After navigating our way to the market, we were greeted by a very grand building, that was as stunning from the outside as it was from the in.
There were market stalls all around it, but we headed straight in to start the experience.
Our first stop, and pretty much the first stall you came to, was a freshly squeezed juice stand. We both opted for orange juices, although other flavours were on offer, and it was truly declicious.
Following that, my eyes wandered across the aisle to a stand selling olives and other various snack like items. I quickly bought a pot of mixed olives for 1 EUR, which came with a handy stick to eat them with. I’ve never seen such variety of colours of olives; all of which had a different flavour to bring to your palette.
Whilst I nibbled away at my olives, we meandered up and down the various rows of stalls, selling all varieties of Spanish and Italian cured meats, fresh fruit and veg, spices, desserts, breads, cheeses and beyond!
Another purchase wasn’t far away when we came across a stall selling candied fruit of all shapes and sizes. A mixed bag of kiwi, kumquat, pineapple and strawberry was the order of play. All tasty, but the strawberry was particularly yummy!
Lois picked up a gorgeous slice of tortilla with Manchego cheese, which she enjoyed whilst I searched for my next taster. After much deliberation, I ended up where I knew I would and chose a fresh baguette with some iberico ham inside; just the ticket!
As we left, we returned to the fresh juice stall to try some Horchata, a very tasty sweet milky like drink made from round tiger nuts, and a farton (snarf!), which is a light, sweet bread treat.
Next up was the nearby old silk market building, which, for just 2 EUR to enter, is an amazing piece of architecture with an amazing history. The main hall was just godsmacking with its size and impact.
After taking in all areas of the various levels, we then hopped onto the bus for the short journey to the stop nearby the Bioparc. After a ten minute walk, and a short wait to present our tickets, we were in.
Over the next 3 1/2 hours, we explored and wondered at all of the amazing animals they had. We were both so impressed with the way it was layed out, as you didn’t feel you were going from one enclosure to another, but more of a seemless continuous journey of animal based delights. Even the surroundings in-between the enclosures were so well executed: you felt like a pair of wild explorers.
Just a few of the animals we saw were flamingos, meerkats, hippos, lemurs, rhinos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles, a leopard, so many fish, ostriches, deer, monkeys, toirtoises, gorillas, baby gorillas! Plus all manner of birds and lots in-between!
We also spent about an hour cooling off with a Calypo each (and plenty of water) alongside an amazing area where giraffes, birds, deer and various other animals shared an enclosure. It was amazing seeing the giraffes in motion, especially across an undulating landscape.
After a giraffe selfie, we headed towards the exit, and picked up a little souvenir from the Bioparc shop.
Another short walk and bus journey took us back near the indoor market and old silk market, where we sought out somewhere to grab a drink and a bite to eat.
After settling in outside a, then empty, nice looking restaurant, we chose some drinks and tapas, which came out in a steady fashion, and were all delicious. Lois had a tortilla, whilst I had some croquettes (chicken and Iberico ham), and we shared some patatas bravas.
After a couple more drinks, and watching various street performers in the square before us, we got the bill and headed back to our hotel by yet another bus.
Tomorrow is going to be another busy day, with us doing the Oceanographic centre (Europe’s larget aquarium!), and the science museum if we have time. We’re then jumping on a train all the way to Barcelona to continue our adventure!
That blog post has made me really hungry now! : )
You’d absolutely love the market!