Tinglado’s market, under the arches, along river Oria.
Last month Pays Basque Magazines’ published an article on Tolosa, capital of the gastronomy of Euskadi (Bask Country). The article emphasised on Saturday morning market where small and local producers sell directly their products. Great pictures to illustrate.
Right after reading it, it’s decided, let’s go there! Tolosa is located 60km away from Villa Kaioa, South San Sebastian. The access is easy, highway then nice road, and there you are, in less than 45 minutes.
It’s 11h30am, the town is crowded, people carry packages, baskets, pull their trolleys totally full. The animation is contagious. It’s easy to locate the market; you just have to walk against the stream of people returning from there, we recognise them from their trolleys full of fruits and vegetables.
You can try everything, and we do so… for the pleasure of our senses.
The pleasure tickles’ our senses: vision, smell, taste, you can try everything… and we keep doing so.
Along the river Oria, the market of Tinglado: a covered but not closed hall, under arches, host dozens of local and artisanal producers. Some cheese, some honey, some bread, fresh vegetables, black beans, speciality of Tolosa, some cider, dried fruits … tempting stalls … we can enjoy everything and it is so good we would like to buy everything (and we do so more or less!). The producers share their passion and explain to us. We spend time with a salesman of honey. Monoflower honey or one thousand flowers, liquid or to spread, dark or clear, strong-tasting or on the contrary more sweetened. We enjoy. They are all so tasty, how to choose? We leave with several jars. Some stalls of vegetables are seducing and cute: about ten leeks, some kilos of potatoes, carrots, some tomatoes also.
You feel the authenticity.
We pursue our way in the city which is charming, to arrive square Berdura, to the flower market. The same atmosphere: under a glass covered hall on a metallic structure, this reminds the typical Parisian subway, full of flower’s producers. In March, there is little but in spring or in summer, we imagine that it must be stunning.
We continue. A little farther the real market is closed. We did not find out why.
We finish our journey few meters away from our point of departure, on a square I don’t know the name of (maybe the plaza Euskal Herria) which looks like to be mistaken with the square of Constitucion in the old San Sebastian.
Another market, we find street vendors, stands of clothes, bags, belts and also fruits and vegetables … some delicatessen there too, yummy! Tempting chorizos …
Our senses are so pleased and stimulated. One thing remain to be done: going for lunch. Another good news: Tolosa is the capital of Txuleta!