I knew I was going to the market with Lycia today. We were leaving at 8am so I got up and got dressed like I was going out to do some shopping in the US. On her way to my apartment, she called me and said to dress in my worst clothes, worst shoes, and don't do my hair nice. I didn't have anything super-nice on but apparently it was way too good for the market. I put on my worst jean skirt, old flip flops, and slicked my hair in a bun. If people at the market see you are dressed nice, you are a target for theives following you when you leave and mug you. They may even do it right there. Anything that you don't want to lose or give up, don't take to the market. I had wanted to take a camera and cell phone in to take a few pictures, but I didn't get to (so sorry). Even the little square that shows up in my pocket is a give away that I'm carrying something valuable.
We went to the safest outdoor market in the city (correct me if I’m wrong . . . or don’t lol), but before we got there I was coached on how to behave if we were held up. Give them ANYTHING they ask for. So I walk into the market without anything that was valuable visible. Oh yes, I had money but you could not see it. It was wrapped up in a napkin and hidden safely – you figure it out. I got to be pretty good at not carrying a purse in fact it was very liberating. Look out Houston
Once we got in the market, it was one of the prettiest things I have ever seen. There were piles of fresh fruits and vegetables on tables and on the ground everywhere I looked. The booths were nothing but tarps very crudely tied on poles that looked like tall sticks. Once again the locals were dressed very warmly in winter hats, scarves, and jackets on this beautiful 60-65 degree day.
The fruits and vegetables were in the front by the entrance and the meat market was in the back. This gives a whole new meaning to the words meat market. Each vendor had their own stall with concrete walls and an open front. The meat was hanging out for display on large hooks so you could have your pick. We went to the seafood part first. The smell was overwhelming but if you breathed very lightly it was bearable. I bought some fresh fish there, not sure of the name though. After the seafood area we went to the meat area. WOW is all I can say. There were huge cuts of beef, pork, and who knows what else, just kidding. We made our way to a stall where one of the church members sells meat. We bought several things from here. Lycia bought about 12 cuts of meat that are equal to a filet mignon, pork ribs, stew meat and maybe some more things. They kept all their cuts in a huge deep freeze. Very different for sure. Sanitation is non-existent. The same hands that they use to cut and package the raw, bloody meat, they use (without washing) to take your money and make change. One of the guys selling meat wanted us to taste some salsa that he was selling. He dipped the knife that he had been using to cut the meat into the salsa bowl and offered for us to taste it off of it. Lycia laughingly refused. He laughed and flicked the salsa into his mouth. I felt like I needed to take a bath in hand sanitizer when I left.
There were young boys for hire (tips) pushing open sided wheel barrows around hoping you would get them to push your purchases around the market for you. We hired a couple of young boys from their church to do this for us. At one point when they passed by a man, the man grabbed his leg and fell down. Lycia said "Just keep walking and don't look at him." He was faking like the boys pushing our stuff injured him. Not quite sure of the motive. Maybe he was hoping we would feel sorry for him and give him money on the spot.
At the produce stands I bought melons, cantaloupe, grapefruit, tangerines, plantains, mini bananas, litchis, pineapple, tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, onion, bell pepper, carrots, and cabbage. There is a great kind of fruit there called a litchi. It's red and looks sort of hairy on the outside. It really doesn't look like anything you could eat, but it's become one of our favorite fruits here. You take your thumb and poke thru the skin and there's a seed covered in white, slimy fruit. Has about the consistency of snot. Tastes good though.
After the market we went to the grocery store. We waited in line for donuts for about 20 minutes. They were so worth it.
I've got everything ready for church tomorrow. The snack bag is packed. The diaper bag is packed. And I've got my roll of toilet paper.
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