Went to Boston City Hall Plaza to see what was happening at this year's Greenfest (http://www.bostongreenfest.org/) which will be going on until Sunday, August 19. It was a beautiful day and there were more people and booths than last year, to my non-authoritative eye. Walking around, listening to the music on the stage echo down to Fanueil Hall, I decided to see what was happening at the Haymarket, the booths were people sell produce from carts the way they have done through the centuries. Entering the market, I saw a couple of people on Hubway bikes, the bike sharing service that has just extended across the Charles to Cambridge and Somerville, and the crowds of people looking for bargains, tourists enjoying the sights, people out for a stroll. At that moment, I felt what a marvelous city this actually is, how things have gotten more human and humane over the years. Here I was on an August afternoon, coming from a green event whose music could be heard in the distance, being a participant in a market that includes bargaining and direct contact between the buyer and the seller without the intermediation of a corporation, among people from all over the world, all enjoying themselves, the city, the day.
It was a moment to recognize and appreciate the increasing conviviality of my city (thank you, Ivan Illich).
The flavor of the market has changed since last I visited. There are tarps shading almost all the market stalls, it seems more organized, and there are more Middle Eastern people than I remember. One novel innovation I observed was a woman in a hijab who tucked her cell phone underneath the cloth thus making the phone a hands free device. Remember her when somebody says the Middle Eastern or Islamic world is stuck in the past.
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Among the things I bought were limes, dill, and a small watermelon. I will slice the melon into small pieces, add lime juice, and mix it all up with finely chopped dill. This is a simple, refreshing dish whose tastes work well together.