Haymarket, West End
Strange, overwhelming, fun
I love haymarket. If you go to shop, be sure you have a back pack or something to carry things with. It’s easy to buy a lot! The deals are good, but keep in mind that the produce is cheap because regular grocery stores wouldn’t take it for some reason. Check that you got what you asked for. The vendors usually won’t let you pick out your own, and they’re not patient. I respect this though. Be assertive and organized and quick to pay. If they “miscount”, point it out, ask for another one, but don’t be rude. It’s not worth it. Also, don’t try to park there if you’re going for the good deals. It costs so much to part in that area of Boston that you will negate any savings on fruit and veg.
One more tip – even if (maybe especially if) you’re vegetarian, go downstairs and upstairs into some of the really interesting rare-in-this-country meat shops where you will find whole dried salted fish, beef testicles, goat heads, chicken feet and more. It’s just so interesting. All you meat eaters out there, go in, look a sheep in it’s dead eyes and just be aware that meat come from a body, from a life. I do eat meat, and I do try to be aware of all that.
