THE MARKET PLACES

The town of Malacatos lies only 5 miles to the north of Vilcabamba.  It has a bigger population base, and so the produce market is said to be larger.   But it was simply too inconvenient to go there without a car.  But that all changed when we obtained a car last week.  The produce market takes place every Sunday.  We were not sure just exactly where it was, but I had been told it was near the church. (It seems every town in this country has a large, Catholic Church, and the town square always seems to be adjacent to it). One cannot miss such because it is the largest landmark to be seen for miles.  Plus, a colony of Chestnut-collared Swallows have built plenty of nests in the upper balconies of which I was keenly aware.  

We had no trouble finding the market area.  We did have difficulty finding a parking place, which ended up being about 3 blocks away.  Lots of people coming and going.  The produce market was on a street, and was probably 100 meters long, with booths on both sides of the road.  They ranged in size about 6 feet wide and 12 feet, I think.  Mangos and Avocados were in short supply, so probably out of season.   I think everything else was well represented: Fruits were Melons, Papaya, Pineapple, Apples, Pears, Bananas, Plantains, Grapes, Oranges, Mandarins, Blackberries, Guanabana, and a few we have yet to try or learn the names of.  Veggies - Potatoes (Many different kinds). Carrots, Peppers, Tomatoes, Beets, Parsnips, Parsley, Chard, Lettuce.  Broccoli, Cauliflower, Large Radishes, Yucca (Yuck) and others.  

We decided to walk the entire length and see what all was there.  In the process we asked prices so we could “shop and compare.” It was a test of our language skills to find out the prices sometimes.  Plus, they do sometimes take advantage of gringos because they know we have more money.  As expected, we did not make it to the end because a certain vendor was low in his quotes.  We bought a papaya for a buck, 7 tomatoes for a buck and 7 bell peppers for a buck.

We have to admit that we sometimes feel sorry for certain vendors, such as an elderly woman with a small table with not much on it, teeth missing with her facial features showing wear and wrinkles, gray unkempt hair.   The reality is that we don’t mind paying more since we can afford it, and the farmers need it.  But the more the gringos cave in to paying higher prices, the result is that the locals end up paying more as well, so a delicate tightrope to walk.  

Here is a pic of all we bought - for $15:00.  There is parsley, grapes, broccoli, lettuce, chard, canteloupe, 2 lbs of carrots, 7 tomatoes, 7 peppers, a papaya, 2 mangos, peas, and corn and 5 huge squares of cane sugar, which should last us months.  Watermelon (which we did not buy) was $2.50, certainly less than the $5 we paid in Vilca.

The remainder are shots in and around the market, some with comments:

TWO KIDS HANGING OUT UNDER A TABLE

SMELLS A LITTLE FISHY IN THIS AREA

SECURITY

THIS GUY WAS SELLING OJ

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE THE
CHICKENS ARE TIED WITH STRINGS.  

THIS IS A GUANABANA, OR, SOUR SOP FRUIT FROM OUR PROPERTY.  IT IS NOT QUITE RIPE.  THE MEAT INSIDE IS WHITE AND MILDLY TART BUT SWEET IN TASTE.

WHEN  READY TO PICK THEY FETCH $5-6.  

                                

                            THE MARKET IN LOJA:

There is a large, daily market in the middle of Loja, and we’ve been there a few times.  It is a large building with 2 floors and a basement where parking is available.  On the south side of the first floor is where the produce is sold.  There are venues next to each other, and are about 12 feet square.  They are slanted upward, the low part by the large aisle is maybe 3 feet off the ground and the upper part against the wall is about 6 feet high.  There is a square hole in the middle where the vendor sits/stands and they deal with clients from there.   There are also venues that sell breakfasts and fruit juices/smoothies.

The north side of the first floor is a huge meat venue.  They sell all kinds of meat there: Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Goat, Donkey, Pig, Fish and etc.  It has a mildly offensive odor, with a few flies to boot.  We walked through the place once, and since we are not big meat eaters, have no reason to go there.  Some people actually buy 2nd or 3rd rate beef for their dogs there.  

The upper floor has various small stores for clothes, shoes, barber shops and beauty salons, a restaurant, juice and smoothie fronts and others.  

The outside areas surrounding the entrances are crowded with small time vendors, mostly selling produce of some sort.  But they also sell other items.  While eating at the restaurant a man came by selling Q-tips.  On one hand it is all annoying to me, hearing all the haggling and announcing of what is for sale, brushing shoulders in a crowded place (I never did like crowds).  On the other hand, this is just normal life here, and I greatly admire when poor people are motivated to make their living even if the results are minimal. 

THEY PLACE THEM RIPE END UP
TO MAKE THEM LOOK MORE APPEALING

THE VENDOR ALLOWED ROSIE TO
PICK THROUGH THE STRAWBERRIES FOR RIPER ONES

THIS IS ON THE STREET WHERE YOU 
CAN PROBABLY GET SOME GOOD DEALS

GRAINS AND BEANS

HERE YOU CAN SEE THE 12 X 12 VENDING STALLS, AND ON THE
RIGHT THERE IS A LADY WHO RUNS THAT PARTICULAR ONE

HERE IS THE CHICKEN AISLE.  

HERE IS A MAN SINGING ON THE SIDEWALK, PANNING FOR $.
HE NEVER OPENED HIS EYES ONCE.

HERE YOU CAN SEE A LADY AT HER BOOTH, IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
THE OPENING BELOW THE BANANAS IS HOW SHE GETS IN THERE.

THE CARROTS HERE ARE QUITE LARGE