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| 6 Markets |
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In the mood for some serious shopping? There are many wonderful markets spread across the region where you can treat yourself to great local produce – just take a trip to these LIAT destinations...
St George’s Market St George’s, Grenada The evocative scent of spices pervades the air at the Saturday morning market in St George’s Market Square. Nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, and a host of other fresh local spices can be bought in gift packs, jars, cloth bags or woven bamboo baskets. For the adventurous, there are less well-known products such as nutmeg and guava jam. Market Square is a hub of activity and minibuses can be caught here to other regions of the Spice Isle. For those with a little time, nearby Young Street boasts a thriving art community and artists sell a range of paintings including local landscapes. Stabroek Market Georgetown, Guyana A visit to Georgetown isn’t complete without experiencing the noise, colour and sprawling chaotic energy of Stabroek Market, the Caribbean’s largest public market. The historic cast iron structure on Water Street covers 80,000 sq ft (7000 m2) and harbours vendors selling everything from meat and eggs to clothes, gold and jewellery. Its iconic four-faced clock, located 60ft above the main entrance, is one of Georgetown’s most recognisable landmarks. Stabroek was built on land and water. A 157ft pier extends out to the Demerara River, so goods could also be transported by boat. Scarborough Market Scarborough, Tobago For a traditional Caribbean street market it’s hard to beat the one on the seafront in Lower Scarborough, Tobago. Vibrant and flourishing, it is a great place to experience local culture and characters. Fridays and saturdays are the busiest days, and as well as fish, fruit and vegetables there are traders selling craft, batik and leather goods. A number of recently constructed kiosks adorn the seafront esplanade and are well worth a visit. Tobago specialities such as tamarind balls, benne balls and sugar cake are available from vendors on the dock front near the ferry terminal. Floating Market Willemstad, Curaçao A quirky ‘Floating Market’ of Venezuelan merchant boats has become a feature of the Punda side of Willemstad’s waterfront in Curaçao. Vendors sail 30 miles from the Venezuelan coast to take advantage of the better prices available for their goods – predominantly fresh seafood and indigenous fruit and vegetables. The produce from this line of tethered vessels is actually sold from colourfully canopied stalls on the dockside above. It is a popular location and buyers are advised to go early for the best choice of grouper, yellow tail, snapper, shrimp and other seafood, as well as plantain, yucca, pineapple, banana, mango and coconut. Kingstown Market Kingstown, St Vincent The City of Arches operates no fewer than three markets. Fridays and Saturdays see Kingstown’s wharf area bustle with activity as Vincentians come to town to shop. Fresh fruits, vegetables, ground provisions, spices and flowers can be found in the Produce Market, between Hillsborough Street and Bedford Street, whilst vendors skillfully chop seasonal catches with large machetes at the new Fish Market, along Bay Street. Upper Long Lane and Lower Long Lane are split by the Central Market, which is full of vendors offering everything from textiles, arts and crafts to perfumes, china, jewellery and batik. Oistins Fish Market Oistins, Barbados Oistins is a village with a difference. By day it’s a local south coast fishing hub, home to Oistins Fish Market, open all week selling fresh shark, barracuda, dorado (called ‘dolphin’ locally), marlin, flying fish, mahi mahi, kingfish, and more, from 4pm daily. By night, especially Friday night, it’s transformed into the Oistins Fish Fry, when local vendors cook up delicious fresh fish to a continuous backbeat of music. There are also craft stalls selling local goods and jewellery. |
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