MERCADO DAY!!
So, we do about 90% of our grocery shopping at the Mercado, which is a lot like a gigantic farmers market. I am so sorry to say, but the markets in Latin America really do put to shame any Portland Farmers Market. The reasons are because of availability, bargaining power, and accessibility (money). To buy 90% of your grocery at a farmers market in the states, we would have been broke and in the red. I still love them, but it's all about accessibility. What is typical of a grocery store in the states, here, is called a maxi, tia, or supermaxi. They often won't have fruits/vegetables/meats, only the really big ones.
Here, in Cuenca, (and Latin America in general) you go to the Mercado to get you fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, seafood, meats, animals, etc. They have the stalls elaborately set up with beautiful color arrangements and buckets of produce ready for you to take home. It's local, it's usually the farm's family selling, and it's fresh. Onions skins are peeled off, garlic cloves separated and peeled, corn husked, peas shelled, fava beans shelled, and the fruit tastes unbelievable!
We wanted to share our list from the market shopping yesterday. This was our 'big' market day (Wednesday) when the market is the biggest (at least the size of a football field jammed with food and people). We also cook almost every meal for ourselves, going out only once every 5/6 days, and that's really just for the social and learning aspect.
Here's our "Gringo" Pricelist, based on yesterdays market trip, pictured above: (since being here, some prices have been cut in 1/2 or reduced by some cents, and we think it's because we don't appear so 'green'... also it helps to go back to the same people)
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There are even daily markets JUST for flowers!
This one is about 200 feet from our front door.
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