Market. Defined in terms of economics a market or marketplace is any location, be it physical, metaphorical, virtual, etc. in which persons trade, and services and goods are exchanged. The scale and types of exchanges that occur in markets varies to an astonishing degree, however when looking at markets as a whole the essential component appears to be transactions. Now a transaction is a very ambiguous thing, I'm sure what comes to mind for most people somehow involves money exchanging hands, but a transaction is not limited to currency , literally anything changing hands can be considered a transaction. Transactions can even be one-sided, where one person gains nothing and the other something, although this is rarely the case when one considers all potential aspects of the transaction. The point of all this abstract thought is to set the stage for relating my experience at Mercato Esquilino last week. Let me begin by saying that I did not purchase anything at the market, no money exchanged hands, yet as you may guess from the introductory section I felt that I participated in several transactions while there. These transactions are difficult to define due to their largely metaphysical nature nonetheless a certain sense of clarity may be gained in the attempt. The first transaction I will address involved no verbal communication yet had a pronounced effect on the rest of my experience at the market. It goes without saying that I was an outsider at Mercato Esquilino, hell I'm an outsider anywhere in Rome, yet here the effect was more apparent. As our group wandered throughout this mall of sorts we drew eyes like flies. I have experienced this sort of unabashed attention in only one other place in the world, certain parts of China, there the simple, at least to me, aspect of being white is enough to draw attention. At Mercato Esquilino I am unsure if it was simply the phenotypic differences we exhibited or if the dramatic reaction only occurred due to a combination of visual and lingual borders. So what constitutes a non-currency based tansaction how do you give, how do you receive. I would theorize that such a transaction would have use one of the five senses as a medium simply due to the human element involved. Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, and Taste, these are how we interpret the world and each other Following this line of inquiry I will attempt to break Mercato Esquilino into these five categories of transactions.
Sight: the market is filled with vibrant colors on both sides of the divide, scarves, coats, dresses, shoes, fabrics in a plethora of hues and styles, glimmering silks and matte wools the dull shine of leather and the bright shine of jewelry. The food market is the yin to this yang containing a corresponding abundance of colorful produce silver scaled fish to match the sequinned dresses oranges and tomatoes capture the same color as bright ties and tees.
Smell: introduced in a progression in keeping with the boutiques on your left and right, the earthy smell of leather as one passes the shoes fading briefly into the faint smell of fabrics before that too is replaced. As you cross over into the farmer's market the smells seem to blend harmoniously as brief snatches of fennel or paprika are carried to you through the tempest of fruit smells that give a positively tropical impression. Venturing deeper in one experiences a jarring transition as you stumble upon the fish market the pungent odor of the catch of the day overpowering all else.
Sound: The market on the day I was there was an unequal distribution of caucophany and silence corresponding to the unequal distribution of business. The textile side is subdued as few people wander between many shops competing for their business. Here and there a customer
negotiates with an owner. However in the food side there is a dull roar of business as steaks are sliced and vegetables and spices are exchanged for euros. Vendors call out to passers-by as well as to each other in a plethora of languages ranging from Hindi to Romanian the clash of which provides an auditory representation of the clash of cultures.
Touch: The feel of fine silk running through your fingers like water. The perfect contradiction of firmness and softness as you find a wonderfully ripe tomato. The pleasant touch of soft cotton on the skin. The grainy feel of salt or spice as you grind it between your thumb and forefinger. The textured weave of tapestry, the picture broken down into so many threads through the medium of touch. The slick, cold and clammy exterior of a fish who gazes blindly upwards. The brief impact as a single entity out of the flow of people brushes past your shoulder.
Taste: Exclusively the domain of one side of the market. I personally only tasted a few things while there, but do not be offended if I let my imagination fill in a few blanks. I did try one of the oranges looking almost red on the inside it burst upon impact with my teeth flooding my mouth with flavor that I lack the words to truly describe beyond saying that it was wonderfully sweet with just enough tartness to create balance, in short it tasted like an orange, one of the better of its kind. I can only imagine how delicious other things in the market must have tasted and that may very well prompt a return trip. The juicy steaks sliced before the eyes of those who will consume them; with the proper care must taste heavenly, tender and moist, seasoned to perfection by the peppers merely meters away. The vegetables on the other hand could create a vivacious salad with crunchy, delectable, bell peppers cavorting with the aforementioned tomatoes as well as refreshing cucumber all hosted by an assortment of various greens. It is in the combination of the wonderful products available that an infinite amount of variety is available.
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