One of Greg and Christina's highlights of Panama City was a trip to the Mercado de Maricscos. Early in the morning, fisherman gather in one large building to sell every type of seafood imaginable. Alongside the fish market, various venders sell fresh ceviches. We loved trying the different creations - all delicious!
We also headed to a nearby locals market, Mercado Publico San Felipe Neri. This giant building houses a fruit and vegetable market, a meat market, and another side market with food stalls selling all sorts of local Panamanian foods as well as various spices, salsas, beans, lentils...etc. It was so fun to walk through these markets and see how the local Panamanian people live. We were the only tourists there and certainly stood out like a sore thumb. Christina even had some of the meat venders and women in the food stalls asking her to take their picture. The Panamanians sure are proud of their food and culture!
In this same vicinity lie Avenida Central and Plaza Santa Ana. Both areas are lined with food stands, and it was a pleasure to see all of the locals in action purchasing their goods.
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| Fish at Mercado de Mariscos |
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All sorts of brilliantly colored seafood
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Believe it or not, when Christina arrived at Mercado de Mariscos in the morning, some of these lobster and crab were still moving - doesn't get fresher than that!
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More fresh fish
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Everyone loves to sample the fresh ceviches that are sold adjacent to the Mercado de Mariscos.
The one on the left is a ceviche mixo (ceviche with mixed seafood)
and the one on the right is a camarones coctail (shrimp cocktail - Panamanian style) - both delicious! |
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| A huge array of fruits and vegetables are sold at the local Mercado Publico San Felipe Neri. |
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| Every type of red meat imaginable is sold at the meat market at Mercado Publico San Felipe Neri. It is quite a sight! |
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| Two giant pigs being sold at the meat market - Mercado Publico San Felipe Neri |
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Christina bought homemade salsa ($1 per jar) from this sweet man at Mercado Publico San Felipe Neri.
The salsa has been our best yet!
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Spices, grains, lentils, beans, homemade salsas - all so colorful, and Mercado Publico San Felipe Neri has it all!
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| Love this truck sitting outside Mercado Publico San Felipe Neri - all ready to sell some veggies! |
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Plaza Santa Ana is filled with locals just hanging out and enjoying life. Avenida Central, leading to the plaza, is filled with vendors and small stores selling every type of household good imaginable. We loved walking around this area and seeing how the local Panamanians live.
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Of course, fruit and vegetable stands are abundant along Avenida Central!
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Avenida Central - a busy local area where locals buy everything they need.
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We bought tamales from this woman on Avenida Central.
Tamales in Panama are moist, generally filled with pork or chicken, and are wrapped in banana leaves - delicious!
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| A Panamanian tamale wrapped in banana leaves |
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