Mercado Santa Clara

  Quito, Ecuador
Sunday, October 28, 2007

17C overcast 8am

Had scrambled eggs and toast with jam for breakfast. And a banana off'course.

Decided to have a look around and thought that surely they don't rob people in broad daylight. Not on a Sunday anyway. 

I managed to ask my landlady if there was a Sunday market and, more amazingly, managed to get on a bus and find it. It was much like a market in the pacific, very big though. I was the only white person there but people were very nice.  

To avoid theft they say to wear your back pack on your stomach and turn the front towards you. This proved way to uncomfortable and it also looked stupid so I thought good luck to any pick pocket that can open the grumpy zip without me noticing it.
I bought a small bag of potatoes, a small bag of carrots,  
a perfect avocado, 2 red onions, a tomato and an orange for US$4 (i think I got the special tourist rate but that is OK). I also bought a clove of garlic, 2 ginger and 2 lemons for 50cents.

I decided to walk back as it really was not that far from the hostel. As I was practicing my Buenos Dias to every person I met I got chatting to Umberto by a bus stop. He told me much about the country's history and economy and also the many problems with over fishing, oil exploitation in the Amazon and the decreasing forests. Needless to say Umberto spoke English. Then his bus arrived and he was gone, which suited me fine as I was starving.

Made myself some lunch at the hostel. Amazing what garlic and salt can do to vegetables.

I can say (but not spell)
Egg - Huvero
Buenos dias , Hola - hello
Plaza de Mercado - market place
Avocado perfecto
Batatas - potatoes