Shopping At The Mercado

Every Saturday morning Sharon and I go to breakfast at Bananas Cafe and then to the Diez de Agosto Mercado on Calle Larga.  Just before we got into the Taxi we noticed a lone Campasino woman doing her laundry in the Yanuncay River.  Notice how swift the river is flowing.  Today's bargain at the Mercado was 30 great looking limons for a dollar.

A Walk Down Calle Larga

After a declicious breakfast at the Kook Sharon, Dean, Bill and I go shopping for fruits and veggies at Diez de Augusto ( the tenth of August) Mercado (Market). Open 7 days a week the market consists of two big floors. Meats, Fish and Fruits are on the bottom floor.  Restaurants, Shops and Veggies are on the top floor. We were in search of onions, carrots, potatoes, strawberries, mangoes, and papayas.

Sharon did all of the negotiating of prices for the first time in Spanish. Besides the great price of fresh produce I love photographing the Campasinos in their native costumes.

Mercado 9 de Octubre

Cuenca has many mercados. The biggest is Fiere Libre. I went there once with a Spanish speaking ex-pat and was overwhemed. It's was indeed a visceral experience. A smaller and gentler Mercado is Mercado 9 de Octubre located at Mariscal Lamar and  Hno Miguel.  Today I ventured in and was awed by the 2 floors of vendors. I  mostly stayed on the first floor and was very proud that I conducted all the transactions in Spanish without using hand gestures. I even asked for a nyapa( spelling) which in Quecha means an extra.