There is a festive atmosphere amongst everyone trying to work, shop, socialize or gawk on the still unfinished streets of La Peñita. Best guess they say, is that it will be finished for Semana Santa (Easter - April) clearly this Christmas wish was not to be. Oh well, we leave our cars at home and walk to town then get a cab to find a way out of the mess for 30 pesos, split usually between 3 of us that's about 70 cents each. The other day I was still getting into the cab when he didn't notice this and started to move. I said "Espera uno mas!" and he stopped. We all had a laugh "Wait one more". Those Spanish classes are paying off.
The Mexicans can really take advantage of a truck as a display vehicle. Or a cart, or a wheelbarrow. It's a shop as you go along the street kind of place. The department of health would have a coronary. It takes me back in time to the 60's when butchers cut the meat, wiped the counter with the dish rag, and our immune systems were in better shape. The vegetables are washed but many are not the perfect shapes found in stores at home. You learn to smell your fish and shrimp before you buy. We squeeze the mangos, smell the bread, and taste the fruit that vendors peel for us to sample. It's food, it's fresh, it's good, someone got it or made it this morning for us to buy. Eggs are sold by the kilo in plastic bags and are not refrigerated although most are washed. If you want parts of a chicken, other than the breast, you buy it from the "Chicken lady" on the street. There are gizzards, livers and feet in bags. It is kept fresh in your standard "Canadian Tire" like coolers. She will hack you off whatever portion you like, pop it in a plastic bag with a smile, a Gracias and wish you a good day. It's great, it's personal. You get to know people.
(You can click on photographs to see a larger version)
Toys, little trees and plants for sale
Limes, a tub of beans, avocados and Chayote squash
Breads, donuts, pies, jams, muffins, etc.
The prickly fruit on the left are Rambutans (like a Lychee), delicious.
I bought a half kilo of Rambutans
Peel them
The spines are soft
Tastes like a grape
Don't eat the nut
This fellow is setting up to sell Tasty Snacks - Pickled Pork Rinds (in the pot)
We bought shrimp, a kilo for 160 pesos
Fresh juice and cut fruit
Piñatas
Food carts
Sugar Cane
Green beans, cabbage, squash, poblano peppers, etc
Nuts, candy, dried fruits
Yay, a free bag when we bought bacon and riblets
Stores display on the street
I realize that in my reluctance to take photos of people when they are working and not be such a Tourista, I miss an important piece of this experience. The smiling faces of the people selling you these things. The laughter from the butcher's son when the other 3 ladies with me also want bacon and riblets so they too can get that Carniceria Nayarit bag! Even though he would probably have given it to them anyway and they really liked what they saw me buy. We practice our Spanish, he helps us with that. Yes, there are occasional grumpy store clerks but not usually amongst the street vendors and family owned stores.
The National General Minimum Wage will be going up on January 1, 2019 to 102.68 pesos per day.
That is about $7 Canadian a day. Yes, that's right, a day not an hour. Remember this if you feel reluctant to tip after a meal or a cab ride. We tip within reason just as we do at home but it's good to know in case you ever wonder if you should ask a cabbie to give you your 2 pesos change.
Today, we gave the park staff their Christmas gifts in the form of a card each with pesos which nearly everyone in the park chips in on. The 2 salaried staff get 2 weeks pay from the owner as per Mexican law but the others do not qualify. Everyone gathers at the office and the gifts are presented then hand shakes and hugs all around.
Well, its been a long blog, Buenas noches.
No comments:
Post a Comment