Delicious food in Taybeh popular market

Brigadier-General Jose Conde, UNIFIL Sector East Commander, walking along the streets of Taybe market with the town Mayor Abbas Diab.

UNIFIL Sector East Commander Brigadier-General Jose Conde buying groceries in Taybe market, south Lebanon.

Brigadier-General Jose Conde inspecting a Roman cistern in Taybe.

Brigadier-General Jose Conde taking a walk along the street in Taybe market with Mayor Abbas Diab.

Brigadier-General Jose Conde buying nuts at Taybe’s market.

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16 Jul 2015

Delicious food in Taybeh popular market

On 8 July, UNIFIL's Sector East Commander Brigadier-General Jose Conde walked around al-Taybe popular market held every Wednesday in the town square. Normally items on sale include vegetables, fruits, and clothes and are usually cheaper than those displayed in regular shops.

"This market has started almost three or four hundred years ago. It is a traditional popular spontaneous market, where people come and lay out their various products, including food, drinks, clothes, and other goods. It is held once a week," Taybe mayor, Abbas Diab, who was escorting Brig.-Gen. Conde, explained.

"In the past, there were no fridges or food storage facilities, so people would buy their needed items for one week time, including meat, vegetables and clothes... and rely primarily on this market. In the beginning, the market was based on bartering; of course now, it is using currency, but it has maintained its spontaneous nature," Diab added.

Merchant Ehsan Amara noted that he usually comes "to Taybe market every Wednesday. As you can see, there is little activity now due to Ramadan. Every now and then, UNIFIL's soldiers pass by and purchase some food. Sometimes, they are accompanied by a Chef..."

Mayor Diab confirms: "UNIFIL's troops visit the market and buy their stuff here. This deepens the fraternal ties between both sides, and this contributes to understanding and improving the relationship."

"In Spain, we have the same tradition, markets in the streets are established every week," Brig.-Gen. Conde said. "Of course I bought stuff from the market. I am a little shopping maniac," he said, amused. "Today, I bought some tomatoes and sweets for my people who remained in the office... Lebanese exquisite sweets...," he stressed.

During the tour, the mayor showed Brig.-Gen. Conde a very old fountain, Ein al-Taybeh. "We realized that it needs to be restored," the Spanish officer said and revealed that agreement was made so as to set up a joint committee in order to take the necessary measures in that regards. "I hope that in the close future, this fountain becomes in the touristic guide of south Lebanon," he added.