Local Markets

One of my favorite activities to do when I travel is to go to the local markets of a city that I am visiting. In these markets, I can learn a lot about a culture, and I get a real flavor for the country that I am in. The markets are a great place to see what the locals eat, what they wear, and even what they do. The best benefit about visiting these markets is to people-watch, to see who the locals are, and to experience the people living their everyday lives.

Many markets are usually open only once a week. In this case, when traveling, sometimes planning needs to be done in order to be in a specific city on a particular day at a certain time. Other markets are open daily so visiting is a bit easier. Some markets can be small, focusing only on certain items, while other markets can be quite large, selling a variety of things. Some markets can be indoors, while others can be outdoors, or a combination of both.

Central Market, Riga
Pike Place Market, Seattle

In markets that I have visited, I have seen lots of varieties of local foods. It has even given me opportunities to taste foods that I normally would not be able to try in my own country. I have found a lot of foods to be quite delicious, and others that I have simply chosen to avoid tasting altogether. Some of the foods that I have seen in the markets include fruits and vegetables; breads and cheeses; meats, fish, and eggs; nuts, dried fruits, and spices; desserts (my favorite!) including pastries, cookies, candy, and cakes. The food varies from freshly grown food to baked goods, and from raw to cooked.

Central Market, Riga
Pike Place Market, Seattle

Not only have I experienced foods in the local markets, but I have also encountered a variety of other items as well. Fresh flowers are a beautiful sight to see. Local clothing including shoes, socks, pants, shirts, dresses, scarves, purses, jackets, pajamas, undergarments, and hats shows what people wear. Hand made jewelry is fun, some of which I usually like to buy for myself. Household items, tools, sunglasses, sewing items, umbrellas, soap, makeup, religious items, books, magazines, newspapers, and music are other things for sale at some markets. Local arts and crafts including paintings, pottery, and tapestries give a flavor of culture in these markets.

Tam Duong Market, Vietnam
Coc Ly Market, Vietnam

The pictures in this blog include some from one of Europe’s largest indoor/outdoor markets, Central Market in Riga, Latvia. There are also pictures taken in my hometown, Seattle, Washington, where one day I decided to play tourist at Pike Place Public Market. Finally, there are several pictures from Vietnam, showing not only items for sale, but the local people as well. At the Tam Duong Market, with the women wearing conical shaped hats selling their vegetables, me and one other woman were the only tourists in that market on that day! At the Coc Ly Market, a woman is showing how she makes her own colorful clothes with local materials. And at the Cai Rang Floating Market people sell their items in their boats while on the waters of the Mekong Delta.

Cai Rang Floating Market, Vietnam

From food to flowers to clothes to jewelry to people, local markets are a great way to experience everyday life.

Sweet Travels!