Marsaxlokk - The Fish Market

 
It was quite a torture to wake up at 6am on a Sunday morning! Why do we need to go so early in the morning?? Can't we go at 9am instead?


Reason #1. Remember this is summer, the sun is hot, imagine your fishes are out in the sun for so many hours, what do you get? Smelly fish. So go early and get fresh fishes.

Reason #2. It is less crowded. Crowd comes in at around 8am.

Reason #3. You are greeted with beautiful sunrise on the way there.

We arrived at 7am sharp! Fresh fishes here we come!

Tents were seen everywhere, sheltering all their goods, and probably buyers too. I wasn't sure if the tents are self-prepared, but I saw some owners setting up. Yes you are reading right, some owners were still setting up at 7am. BUT most of those were selling clothings, decorations, etc, not FISHES.

You would find at least 10 stalls of fishes, fruits and vegetables around.

How to choose which stall to buy from? I would think to use your nose. How so? Walk around and you would smell how fresh the fishes. According to a local who guided us through, there are stalls selling fresh fishes caught from the sea, there are some selling defrosted fishes where they got from wholesaler.

Spice Stall

We bought it from the stall next to the spices stall. Friendly couple, but sadly they don't speak much English. We used our phones to google for the pictures or the name of the fishes we want in Maltese and showed it to her.

Look at the gigantic fish in the picture below. I believed it was tuna fish. As I was told, this size was considered to be small. Big ones were as big as an adult.

Fishes and fruits and vegetables, clothing and accessories, spices, honey, and more can be found there.

Most stalls of the same category clustered together. We bought some cinnamon powder from the spices stall too. It had a great variety of spices at a very very reasonable price. I was comparing to the price I bought at the supermarket. It was at least half the price cheaper. They are so environmental friendly too! You get some money off when you bring back empty bottles next time.

The stall that sells honey has many honey related products. I was told that these honey were locally made and very good. I would want to get some next trip to try.We bought 3 big fishes, and 3 thick slices of swordfish fillet at just 30Euros. It was a lot cheaper than buying the same amount in a supermarket.



Over-charging may happen to foreigners, do go with a local if you can. However the stall that we went to, did have a price board on the fishes. But we only saw it at this stall, not anywhere else. So do be aware.

You could spend some time at the stall, listening to other buyers and gauge the price of the fishes to avoid being over-charged.

Do share with me your experience at Marsaxlokk in the comment box below, or let me know if you need directions.

Where is the vibrant sight?

It was a Saturday that we decided we should get out of bed early and explore Valletta again. Actually, we had a mission which is to scout for some household stuff. Sadly to report, mission failed! But I gained some new clothes to make it up. :)

Always remember to go Valletta early in the day, except Sunday! Shops starts to close in the afternoon, which I seriously have no idea what are their opening hours. I notice all shops are opened in the morning though.



As we were walking, something caught my eye. It was an entrance, an really old looking entrance. Out of curiosity, I stood there and take a closer look.

I saw a few people going in and out. Seeing that it didn't require any entrance fee, we went in. To my surprise, it was actually a market, in-door market. For Singaporeans, it was like the neighborhood area where wet markets were found.

Look at the roof structure. Isn't the work that was done in the old days amazing?

The shops and interior found in the market. Some shops were closed, probably no longer in use. It was a clean market.

Butcher

Cheese Stall

Fruits and Vegetables

Building Structure was quite interesting though. It was constructed out of metal entirely in the 1800's. The roof design were simple and classic. There were just a handful of people inside, the spaces towards the end were not occupied or opened. It was quite a well-rounded market, where you find butcher, fruits and vegetables, cheese and grocery shops. It was quite an organised market, where butchers, fruits and vegetables stalls were grouped together. The people shopping there, were mainly above 50 or even 60 years old. I reckon that this should be their main marketing place in the past.

Looking at the crowd in Is-Suq and the open market outside, I guess this place will be soon forgotten. Do take a look when you are in Valletta before it is totally abandoned.

Share it, visit it before it is abandoned!!