Dave and I love to cook so I think we are as excited to find new markets as we are with any other tourist sight.  The thing I like best about the market other than the abundance of fresh food is the people.  It is a place that even if you don't speak the language of the country you can get along because food is the same in any language.

We decided to go to Pozzuoli to seek out a large fish market that runs daily (except Sundays).  The only thing that we were sorry that we didn't plan for was that if you want to buy from the fish market you should probably have a cooler with ice to bring home your haul.  Because of our lack of forethought we were unable to see what else the town had to offer but we did acquire some yummy mixed clams (Misto vongole) and some prawns (gamberi) for our dinner and it guaranteed that we will return. 

In addition to the great selection of seafood there were vegetable stands and a couple of bread and cheese stands to tempt us.  We took advantage and purchased some beautiful artichokes, cabbage, strawberries and other small items.  We also made friends with one of the vendors, Genny.  He was a friendly gentleman around sixty years old.  I procured from him a lovely bottle of Tawny port for 10 Euro.  Not too bad of a bargain I thought and he was so entertaining that he made the whole experience more fun.

We were delighted and a little intimidated by the live octopus that were taken unceremoniously from their water bath and either flung to the ground and then manhandled into a sack or killed on the spot for the convenience of the purchaser.  The quote Dave and I often use is very true here, "food is murder, tasty, tasty murder. 

Fish vendor

Octopus (live in water)

Octopus getting ready for his ultimate fate

Octopus putting up a good fight not to enter the bag

Live snails mmmmm.

Monk fish, ugly but yummy

Fish vendor