San Pedro Market

You’ll probably fall into one of two camps on this one.

The first group will look at these photos and think, “Wow!  Look at all that produce!  And I bet its cheap!”

The second group will look at these photos and think, “Dear lord, I hope you washed everything you purchased from there within an inch of it’s life, and even then I’m not sure you should eat it.”

Needless to say, I fall into the first group (but I still wash everything.)  Look at that produce!  All this stuff is local.  Keep in mind it’s winter here, and we are at 11,200 feet.  How are they growing strawberries??

Not to mention bananas, apples, giant avocados, and whatever these are.

Everything is pretty much just sitting around in giant sacks, but this is probably one of the most organized farmer’s markets I’ve seen in another country.  There are sections divided by type of vendor (bread, cheese, fruit, etc), and the aisles even have signs hanging above them.  It’s very easy to move through and not chaotic at all.

All of the vendors have been super nice to us every time we shop, even when our Spanish isn’t stellar.  Often they are sitting around their booths having lunch with their family or cleaning produce, and several have even been sleeping when we wandered by (see the woman in the first photo.)

The meat always seems a little gross to me, but nothing smells and there are no full carcasses hanging anywhere.  Much calmer and cleaner than what I’ve see in Spain or Guatemala, for example.

There is, of course, a more traditional supermarket down the road from our apartment as well.  We’ve gotten a few staples from there, but it’s just more fun to shop at the San Pedro Market for produce.  Even if we do have to schlep it way back up the hill to our house – its good exercise :)