Athens Central Market
October 20, 2017
This past month, I took a trip to Greece. My first stop was Athens. I went to the Central Market one morning, where I was greeted by a riot of color from the line of fruit and vegetable stands along the street. The merchants had carefully placed their products neatly in rows and containers - a daily ritual. The display of red, yellow, green, and purple attracts the eye of the browsing shopper (and roving photographer.) I admired the graphic quality of the displays. Some merchants had cut open a lime or pomegranite which they placed on top of their array to show the succulence of their fruit.
Fruits and Vegetables (slide show)
The market continued across the street in a large building where nuts, fish and meats are sold. The pungent smell of the fish drove my friend, who was with me, away. I entered the huge space and walked down the aisles filled with varieties of fresh fish in bins of ice. There was squid and octopus plus many species I did not recognize. I came across one bin where the crabs were still moving. Now that's fresh!
In another area, raw meats with heads attached and entire chickens were hanging from bars in covered booths. What a difference from what you would see in your local Jewel or Whole Foods store.
