Pisaque, Peru

 

While in Peru, we went to a town called Pisaque because we heard it had a great market.  We weren't disappointed when we got there.  The thing that really stood out to us were these women that were walking around the market in their traditional clothing with fabric cloths tied to their backs.  From what we could tell, this wasn't a show for the tourists, but this is how the people live on a daily basis.  These fabric cloths were so useful.  It seemed that almost every woman wore one, either carrying her purchases, her wares, or her child.

The women in the market sold fruits and vegetables or household items.

I liked the way that they would braid their hair and tie it together at the ends.

This woman is eating her lunch with her child tied to her back.  Very convenient. 

 



Here I am at the market.  I am trying to demonstrate how tall I am compared to the native woman.  Most of them came about up to my armpits.

The isles of this market went on and on and on.  Everything they sold was so colorful and beautiful.

 



This little girl was wandering through the market trying to get poeple to pay to get their picture taken with her.  In her little sachel she has a baby llama.  She did not speak Spanish to our surprise, she spoke Quechua, an aboriginal language still used in Peru.

There were other ladies in the market as well dressed in their native dress hoping to earn a little money by getting pictures with the tourists as well.

 



Shoppers heaven right?  Well, actually, unless you are well versed in the Spanish language and are good at haggling, it can be quite overwhelming.

Another great shot of a lady with her baby wrapped in a blanket on her back.

All the vendors seemed to be eating the same lunch, a few boiled potatoes and piece of meat.  Most just had the boiled potatoes with no meat.  They would peel them with thier fingernails and pop them in their mouths.

 

Here I am buying corn.  It had huge kernels and you would think it would be starchy, but it was sweet and delicious.  She salted it for me and threw in a little wedge of a soft, white cheese.

We were able to watch this lady demonstrate how to wrap the fabric so that could be used as a backpack.

This looked like a favorite place to grab some lunch it you were a local.  Peruvian food is quite delicious.

Walking down the streets of Pisaque, Peru.