Cabbages so enormous it's easy to see how the tales of babies being found under cabbage leaves began. Quite a lot of flowers and bedding plants. Clothing and dry goods as well, some of it surprisingly inexpensive.
The Turkish lira has dropped nearly 22% against the euro over the past year, making life very difficult for Northern Cypriots, especially since many major purchases, such as cars, require hard currency. Nevertheless, we do notice that, despite sanctions, there are more late model cars and new buildings than there were seventeen years ago when we first came here. And quite a lot of trading seems to be taking place with Europe, Asia and the Americas. Through Turkey?
Lunch at Minder, the little restaurant with village style home cooking, only steps away from the back of the market. There is a sheet of daily specials, but the owner also lifts the lids of the metal tubs to show us the possibilities. The most interesting are artichokes, with what seems to be rings of minced stuffing between the leaves. The effect is rather pretty, actually, but artichoke leaves are not nearly as nice as the (ridiculously labour intensive) sautéed hearts that J does occasionally. Settle for meatballs that remind me of ones J's mother used to make. Lovely meal.