On Sunday I traveled down the valley to Carhuaz; which has a fantastic market every week. I spent all day wandering around the maze of streets filled with vendors of every kind. Honestly, markets are one of my favorite things anywhere in the world. I will choice to visit a market over almost any tourist destination. Museums, churches, ruins, and so forth; they all can look the same after awhile and can get old quick – while markets are always an endless source of entertainment and enjoyment for me. Markets provide wonderful insight into the society and culture you are visiting; one begins to understand not only what is consumed in that society (especially all the rare delicacies..) but also you can observe customs and how people interact – just stopping and watching the interactions between people is amazing; people bargaining, gossiping, catching up, comparing prices, visiting friends and family, and so forth.
Markets around the world are such a social scene, a wonderful venue to interact with people. In Carhuaz, the whole family seemed to come to the market; to sell, to buy, to visit, to gossip, to be seen and so forth. The streets in a whole section of the city were closed off and people set up shop where ever they could find space and it became an endless maze of venders (like I said of all types…clothing and shoes to dried fish and guinea pigs to children’s toys and office supplies.) In many ways it is incredibly different from any market back home, but at the root it’s the same: a community coming out on a sunny day to do some shopping and come together. Oh how I miss my Saturday B’ham market (walking downtown getting chocolate strawberry crepes and wandering for hours)!
One of my favorite things about the market in Carhuaz had to be the fact that I did not see another Gringo the entire time I was there! It was incredible…. It’s not that Huaraz is over run with them or anything (though at times it can seem that way…) but to have an entire day pass without seeing another foreigner – especially in such a beautiful city with a fantastic market – was a little crazy! I really enjoyed all of the looks I got from all the Peruvians in the market – it was like they could not believe a foreigner was there (especially a woman on her own!) I’ve have now gotten used to hearing ‘gringa’ all the time – and now find it amusing when I past someone and they mutter in under their breath with surprise.
One of my favorite parts of the market had to be stopping and talking to venders – people are always so excited when you make conversation in Spanish (especially when you throw in the few words of Quechua you know!) It doesn’t take long for them to open up and I love the conversation that follows. On my way out of the market, I made one last minute stop; I couldn’t resist stopping to look at this one old woman’s hats. One thing led to another and soon we were talking about Vicos, Quechua, her children, and more. I asked her for a photo as I was leaving and she gladly obliged and then insisted that we find someone to take one of both of us. I wish I could have a video of the scene that followed….a gringa in the market was already brought stares but then having my photo taken with this woman turned into a huge attraction with people stopping and a crowd gathering. Explaining to a Peruvian woman how to use my Digital SLR was a little difficult but eventually she figured it out – then everyone who had stopped to watch thought it was hilarious how tall I was compared to my new friend and someone else was called in to bring a stool for me to sit on and everyone insisted I put on one of the hats for sale. Laughs were had by all and I found myself promising to return with copies of the photos next week! The whole experience really finished off my wonderful market day perfectly and is just one of the many reasons I love this country!
As always this has become too long and I am way out of time….hopefully more soon!
My favorite Peruvian dish; Aji de Gallina (definitely coming home with the recipe though I know it won’t ever be the same as it is down here!)
Yes, they have cervaza ice-cream – of course I had to try it – and yes it tastes just like beer.
Ice-cream is serious business in Carhuaz, especially on market days – every street corner has a vendor and the Plaza is lined with shops including this one; which is four stories tall! Oh and did I mention how delicious and cheap it is - $.30 for two scoops and all types of flavors; my favorite has to be Maracuya (passionfruit)
And finally a link to some more photos!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/nicolekristine/Carhuaz
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