Markets in Europe in the Middle Ages may not have been much different from this. Oh, they wouldn’t have had trucks, of course. Or tomatoes, for that matter. But I imagine the look and feel would have been much the same.

Let’s start with the retail market. Later, we’ll see the wholesale market, too.

Remember those tomatoes they were unloading from the boats? Here they come to market.

And indeed, you can find tomatoes at this market. Along with many other kinds of very fresh fruits and vegetables.

Also, there were lovely flowers.

As you might expect of a market on Inle Lake, many vendors sold seafood, both dried and fresh; and also hearty fish soups and soup ingredients in addition to fish.

And here are some of the other things they sold.

Tomatoes and corn–just like the farmers markets here in New England!

Or then again, maybe not quite like the farmers markets in New England.

Yes, I do think that this last one is skewered grilled eels. Or maybe snakes. Bon appetit!

Finally, here’s a panorama of the market that Dan shot. It’s a big file (3mb). Click here if you’d like to view it; it should load in a new window or tab. It’s pretty cool.