Beyond La Boqueria in Barcelona markets

A recent article in Saveur magazine was a reminder that it pays to stray from the usual-suspect destinations when visiting Barcelona, or any other city for that matter. Many travel writers aren't especially imaginative or ambitious - maybe they're even a little lazy - and just follow what they've seen written elsewhere, In the worst cases, they don't even visit the places they write about and just regurgitate information from other articles they've seen. Either way, you unknowingly get warmed-over descriptions of the same few sights, such as the Pinotxo tapas bar in la Boqueria, invariably mentioned as one of the finest in Barcelona.

Our only photo inside la Boqueria, but you get the idea. There is lots of everything here.

But along with all the recognition come the crowds, even more so now that Barcelona is the busiest cruise port on the Mediterranean, with as many as 30,000 passengers and crew docked at any given time.

If you want the food, the architecture and the charm that may be overwhelmed by the tourist hordes at la Boqueria, try one of the more than three dozen other food markets scattered throughout the city, so that every neighborhood has access to fresh food, something that is lacking in most American cities.

Santa Caterina market, at the edge of El Born, was renovated a few years ago, with the colorful awning added.

La Concepcio, in l'Eixample Dreta (Right Eixample), also has a regular food store in the basement.

Sant Antoni market, one of the most distinctive, is supposed to reopen soon after a major renovation. On Sundays, there's a huge book and printed materials market under the overhangs that surround the classic building.

Check them out on the city website, as well as the wide range of specialty markets like Encants, which is a gigantic flea market set in a shiny new package just off the busy Placa de les Glories. As the old saying goes, "if you can't find it here, you don't need it." Electronics, underwear, antiques, you name it and someone here is selling it. And, hopefully, it was all acquired by the sellers legally, although I'm not sure about some of the phones and computers.

Best deal in town on boxer shorts.

Lots of electronics, although I wouldn't vouch for their origins.

View from under the reflective roof to the distinctive Torre Agbar, reminiscent of the "gherkin" in  London.

One neat aspect of these markets is that they each have unique style and personality, and some are recognized architectural wonders in their own right, such as Encants and the recently renovated del Ninot market in the Left Eixample and the Mercat La Barceloneta.

The renovated Mercat de la Bardeloneta has been honored with awards for its architecture.  Photo courtesy of MiAS Arquitectes.

We'll be staying in El Born this fall, and I want to make it a point to visit the Barceloneta market. It will be only a 10 or 15 minute walk from our apartment, and we can be at the seafront in 5 minutes more.

I'm also hoping to sample many more of the small restaurants and tapas joints that are very near our apartment, such as El Casal, and look forward to posting reviews and giving reports on this blog. It looks like even though we'll have a kitchen, it may not get much use, especially since this will be near the end of our trip and our resolve to save money by eating in will likely have eroded.

If you'd like to "live" in Barcelona or Paris for a few days to a few weeks, check out examples of vacation rental apartments at www.likelivingthere.com. Or, just send an email to info@likelivingthere.com with your anticipated dates and a little about your visit, such as how many people and any necessities, such as a lift, and we'll respond promptly with suggested flats. Either way, we'll keep up a dialog as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable with your choice, and provide as much information as you'd like.