Unexpected findings in Barcelona!

by Lori and Michelle on April 15, 2010

Hey friends!!!

I have so much to cover with you all I am just going to get started!

My breakfast was my typically not so pretty smoothie in the hotel

IMG_5150I am soooo looking forward to my Vita-mix when I get back home. Though the Tri-best personal blender does do a decent job!

It was a cloudy day but no rain. Gary and I did a lot of walking sight seeing today. We started walking down one of the famous streets here in Barcelona known as Las Ramblas.

And we came across this amazing find!!!!!

IMG_5154A local farmers market. Now this is no ordinary farmers markets (this definitely puts the farmers markets I sell at in the States to shame).

IMG_5159I was like a little kid in a candy store. I was in heaven :) This farmers market was HUGE! I mean every where I turned there was more!

IMG_5156Do you recognize this place?

IMG_5160

Yes, the place we ate at yesterday they have a stand here at the market!

IMG_5161Market had tons of fresh meat vendors.

IMG_5162Places to sit down and eat too!

IMG_5165Tons of fresh produce stands!

IMG_5168

There was also a lot of fresh fish vendors.

IMG_5166

IMG_5167

And than why I love Barcelona so much and why I think this is the best farmers market!

IMG_5169

IMG_5171This market was awesome! Everything was so cheap too. I mean just one euro for those smoothies and most of the items there. It was crazy and very popular place. It was so crowded there with locals and tourist. It was a fun time I highly recommend this market to anyone going to be in the Spain area. It was literally heaven for me, having all those smoothies, coconut, fresh fruit is raw foodist heaven. ;)

IMG_5170I got the banana strawberry smoothie (Gary and I split it). It was sooooo good. I mean every where I turned their were more vendors with these delicious smoothies.

IMG_5172There were vendors with fresh chocolate and desserts,nuts, dried fruits, and spices!!!!

IMG_5174

IMG_5175So many different options it was unbelievable. Paradise I tell you ;)

IMG_5177I mean look at those fresh figs!!! Beautiful aren’t they?

IMG_5181

After living heaven farmers market we continued to walk down Las Ramblas. This street is nuts! There were more vendors out here selling things as well but not your typically food.

IMG_5184

Nope it was plants, herbs, catcus, art, and animals.

IMG_5186

Yes you heard me right ANIMALS. Now here comes the vegan part of me coming out. I really do not think it is right to sell animals on a street!!!! No matter what culture you are from.

IMG_5320I mean who really buys these animals. They had birds, hens, fish, turtles, rabbits. I was not happy to see this but there is nothing really that I could do. I really have never seen this before. Crazy huh?

Ok enough of the farmers market time for more sight seeing.

IMG_5194Love all their little streets and ally ways.

IMG_5204The Cathedral

IMG_5218Pretty impressive in the inside!

Now onto lunch. I wanted to keep my lunch simple today and mainly liquids. Luckily enough we came across a little cafe that had vegetarian meals (some vegan). A cute little cafe.

IMG_5242They had a variety of drinks and pre-made meals to choose from. I wanted to stay with liquid from lunch so I grabbed a soup.

IMG_5237

IMG_5239Lunch we just sat outside somewhere and enjoyed our food.

IMG_5244Pumpkin and carrot soup. It was alright. I had about half the jar. It just did not have a whole lot of flavor. Very bland but decent. I usually like pumpkin soups but this one just needed some more flavor like cinnamon or something.

IMG_5246But this delicious smoothie made up for it. Since we were so close to the farmers market I went by and grabbed one of this chocolate banana coconut smoothie.  :) Happy taste buds now! I have a feeling I am going to be at this market a few more times on this trip. I seriously love these smoothies!!! It is funny how something this simple makes me so happy! Does that ever happen to you? That something is so simple yet so empowering and wonderful?!?!

We walked down to the port of the harbor. And enjoyed an avocado from the market.

IMG_5259This little avocado only cost us 30 euros! I was so impressed by some of the vendors prices at the market. It is hard to find an avocado for under $1 in the states.

IMG_5260Pure bliss! I split the avocado with Gary. You can never go wrong with an avocado.

Our view

IMG_5255So peaceful!

We did some more site seeing and than headed back to hotel for me to grab a snack and rest a little before heading out again.

IMG_5269Pure2raw black sesame flatbread. I enjoyed one three slices! ;) Perfect little snack.

I felt like my day today was mostly snacks. I guess that happens from time to time ;) I will get to dinner later but it was one of the best nights yet here in Barcelona so far.

Question: If money or time was not an issue where would you like to travel to?

Till next time,

Lori

The Twins

L&M

{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

Stephanie April 15, 2010 at 11:00 am

OMG the markets look fabulous! Glad you are having such a nice trip :)

If I could go anywhere it would be Italy, wine tasting and eating delicious food, foreverrrrrrr

Reply

Jessica @ Dairy Free Bety April 15, 2010 at 11:07 am

wow… what an amazing market!! I would have been in Heaven too!!! :) So awesome!!! So many fun treats!! Glad you are enjoying it!!

Reply

Andrea of Care to Eat April 15, 2010 at 1:35 pm

I remember that market! I was definitely overwhelmed when I was there.
I hope you guys have plans to go to Parc Guell – that was one of my favorite parts of Barcelona!

Reply

Megan @ Healthy Hoggin' April 15, 2010 at 3:02 pm

Oh my goodness, that market looks AMAZING!! There were some really cool markets when I lived in Florence, but they certainly weren’t that cheap!

And I hate it when people sell animals on the street! They do that here in Los Angeles (in the “Fashion District” downtown) and it makes me so sad! I try to avoid walking by them as much as possible, because I know I’ll get the urge to save those animals! But I definitely don’t want to encourage the sale of those animals, either… *sigh*

If I could travel anywhere, I’d love to see Ireland! Maybe someday… :D

Reply

Pure2 April 15, 2010 at 11:37 pm

Megan, really they do that in LA, that is crazy! I would love to go to Ireland as well, that is another place on my list to visit!

Miz April 15, 2010 at 3:40 pm

INDIA.

LOVING the posts….

Reply

Lori April 15, 2010 at 4:08 pm

If money were no object, I would fly off to Belize, Costa Rica, Spain, anywhere! I love to travel and have not been in SO long!

Your time in Barcelona looks fabulous! I’m so happy you found that amazing farmers market! What a find! It’s huge! And the produce looks great. Smoothie sounds good too! The selection of everything is amazing. I bet you were in heaven!

Enjoy your time!

Reply

Pure2 April 15, 2010 at 11:38 pm

Lori I think you would really love Spain area though I have great things about Costa Rica as well. I have had some friends go there and they really loved it. I love to travel too.

Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine April 15, 2010 at 6:44 pm

That market looks incredible!! I’ve seen animals sold on the street in lots of European countries…I think most of them are meant to be bought for food! As strange as it seems though, those animals probably have led much better lives than animals raised for food in the US. They’ve been raised on a farm and cared for, not just stuffed in tiny corners and slaughtered inhumanely!

I’d love to visit Australia…hopefully one day!

Reply

Pure2 April 15, 2010 at 11:40 pm

Gabriela, you are so right. They probably are better taken care of then in the states which just does not seem right ;) Ahh Australia is my next place to travel to as well!!! I have heard great things and would love to go :)

hihorosie April 15, 2010 at 9:47 pm

Wow! That farmer’s market looks so amazing and fun! Such a cool find. And that avo is beautiful. Mmmm…

And where to travel? SPAIN! Yes, it’s always been my top choice to go. It’ll happen.

Keep having fun!

Reply

Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) April 15, 2010 at 10:53 pm

i am pretty much in total awe of these trip pics…wow. Amazing and I am soooo happy for you and this wonderful experience!

Reply

gina (fitnessista) April 16, 2010 at 6:58 am

that market is OUTTA CONTROL! makes me can’t wait until i can visit spain. looks like you’re having an amazing time!
xoxo

Reply

Pure2 April 16, 2010 at 9:18 am

Thanks Gina, You will love Spain! It is so nice and beautiful country. And they have really good goat cheese!!! HAHA :)

Ashley April 16, 2010 at 9:48 am

If people didn’t sell animals on the street, folks from many cultures would starve to death.

On a side note, fabulous pictures. Wish I could travel.

Reply

Ela April 16, 2010 at 4:41 pm

Yes, the simplest things are so life-affirming and validating, aren’t they? To me, your beautiful avocado looked almost as delightful as your chocolate smoothie (or more so, depending on my mood).

I’m so glad you’re sharing this wonderful experience with us. I am learning a lot from seeing just how much you convey with the pictures.

Thanks for sharing about socca too. Did you know that the original Italian polenta was also made of chickpeas? It’s the same sort of principle as making pate and flatbread out of the same batter (hummus or socca) – very raw food-friendly concept!

love
Ela

Reply

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge

Previous post:

Next post: