Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Typical of most I have seen in Peru, our local market consists of a large mix of booths offering all types of merchandise (dry goods, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, clothes and so on), and there are simple places to eat. All of which attract a large number of people. Whenever I go, I feel strongly the crowds, the movement, and the energy.

However, for me it is certainly a much more meaningful human experience than going to the supermarket. I reflect that there have been markets like this for thousands of years. It is the coming together to buy and sell that is a basic human experience. It is dynamic, vivid and a great example of the energy of the market in action.

We are visiting the market on Saturday morning, and the place is teeming with people. Actually, every time I go it is filled. Immediately, looking at the crowd, I realize that most people in Lima still go to the local market for at least some of their needs. The aisles are full and people are buying.

The smells are abundant and pungent, depending on the offerings of the vendors near at hand. For me one of the most challenging and attractive areas of the market is the location of the fish immediately across from the sellers of flowers. One step in either direction changes dramatically the smell I encounter.

I particularly love the rampant colors of the fruits and vegetables. Today it is the cerise of the rows of pomegranates that attracts me. Perfectly round and brilliant in their color, they are hard to resist.

The abundance and variety that is shown in the market always astounds me. There are items from all corners of Peru: the jungle, the mountains and the coast.

The other thing that impresses me is the quiet murmur of the crowd. Few of the hawkers shout out. The crowd talks quietly to itself. Everybody is moving, but there is little pushing and shoving, more like the quiet flow of a river.

I head towards the back of the market to fulfill my mission for the day. Across from the incredibly odorous display of fish, are the flowers. I greet my casera (this is a vendor with whom you have a special relationship—supposedly he/she will give you better quality and better prices), and she selects a bunch of flowers for our house.

Clutching the beautiful flowers I have just bought for six soles (US. $ 2.00), I wend my way back through the market. I’m glad I came, but with my senses filled, I am ready to leave.

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Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fresh meats in the markets of Peru are excellent.

The problem I have is when the fresh chicken is within a few feet of fresh strawberries.  It is ok to enjoy the wonders of Peruvian markets so long as one obeys the rule of keeping healthy: "Cook it, peel it or forget it."

That eliminates straberries and some other fruits and vegetables that cannot be washed in boiling water.  Bananas, oranges, tangerines can be peeled and potatoes, carrots, cabbage can be cooked.

My suggestion to the Health Ministry would be to require separation of fresh meats section of markets from fresh fruits and vegetables.  Some markets have cooked food right next to fresh uncooked meats.  Not a good idea.

In any case, if one sticks to the rules of staying healthy, the markets are indeed provide a variation to ones cuisine.

Ken