VeggieTalk

In my previous post I took a break from my travel memories (already starting to feel like distant memories) to report on tonight’s dinner, but I do want to complete the posts on my European journey. Both yesterday and today, my son Evan asked when we could go back to Amsterdam. When, indeed? I’d go back in a heartbeat, but now I’ve got Prague and Venice on my “to-do” list.

While on the train from Amsterdam to Paris, I was chatting with a couple who recommended I check out the organic farm market in the Jordaan district; and luckily the market was a short couple of blocks from our hotel. Our first morning, I was able to stock up on a few things for our hotel room—fruits (both fresh and dried), breads, and snacks for our daily outings.

It seems to me that one might actually do most of the weekly shopping at a market like this. Aside from lots of great-tasting organic produce, there were oils, condiments, soy products, juices, breads, and cheeses. What was lovely is that I saw many people bring their own cloth shopping bags; and shopping this way reduced the reliance on packaged foods. Then, once the shopping is done, the groceries are attached to one’s bicycle. Such a green city! Bikes are the main transport, followed by electric trams. Even many of the tour boats on the canals run on some sort of green fuel.

In my last newsletter, I pondered the question of where Amsterdamers shop, since with all our walking and biking, we saw very few food shops. One reader responded, letting me know that the city’s residents indeed do a lot of shopping at the markets, and sending me this link. I’m not sure of the name of the particular market I visited (maybe nieuwmarkt), but it was on Prinsegracht, going toward central station, and is there on Saturdays from 9 am to 4 or 5 pm. It may be there other days of the week. Everyone speaks English extremely well, so if you visit, you’ll have no problem getting help asking for what you’d like at the market.