Tuesday, February 2, 2010

2 February 2010






















This morning as I was shopping in the market, I was wishing I could take a short video of it to give you a better sense of what the market is really like. Maybe tomorrow I will try a video....






But for now, imagine a flea market stall about 20' by 20' crammed full of all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables, several kinds of riceand beans, at least a couple varieties maize, ten different kinds of potatoes most in large sacks on the floor. Along the walls and isleways you can find everything from juice, canned vegetables and fruit, wine, noodles, spices to cleaning supplies, shampoo and soap. There is a freezer by the sidewalk which hold butter and other refrigerated items. As you step into the market, the temperature rises ten degrees. There are four or five family members running the stall. You tell them what you want and they put it together for you. Each one of the five is yelling something across the stall to someone else who is already yelling out something else. The patriarch sits at a small table along the sidewalk with a fanny pack which he uses as a cash register. The chicken market is across the street but owned by the same family. If I ask for chicken, they whistle across the street and yell out the number of kilos they need to bring over. It's a hustle. It's a bustle. But they are quick and efficient. If you buy large quantities, they load the truck for you. If their produce is less than a certain standard, they send someone to buy that item from someone else's stall. It's a new meaning for one-stop shopping.






At the property today, they had poured the cement at the bottom of the septic tank and were building the walls with brick. Another worker was bending the rebar to be used in the walls.

Two more workers were digging the footings by hand for the swimming pool.

Another worker was building the back wall for the master bath. Some others were working on digging a hole for the cistern.
This afternoon, I did laundry at Daniela's. She was kind enough to offer the use of her machine. The only stipulation was to continue her tradition of putting S/.3 in a jar for every load. This then is used for future trips. No problem for me; laundry in town is S/.4 a kilo and we often spend S/.40 a week there.
Home tonight for a fish dinner and a relaxing evening in our room, checking e-mails and blogging.

1 comment:

  1. I wrote this big long comment and it wouldn't allow it.....I'll just send it mentally now. The note says it was published, but I don't see it...Have a good time. I'll look forward to seeing you when you get back!

    ReplyDelete