Market Day

Friends and Family, it´s time for another update. Hallye and I have just returned from the mercado central where there is more fresh produce than I have ever seen in one place in my life. Just two blocks away from our hostal is this three story ¨grocery store¨ laden with men and women selling the freshest vegetables, fruits, poultry, fish, grains, herbs, breads, pastas, baskets, flowers, legumes...the list goes on. It is also possible there to sample the most traditional ecuadorian dishes. It was packed in there today and I had to haggle with a woman who was trying to charge me 1.25$ for five apples when her sign clearly read ¨Manzanas: 5 por 1 dolar¨. She said that the sign only applied to the small apples and the large apples were more. I asked her where the small apples were then because I only saw one size of apples and her reply was that she didn´t have any small ones today. So I gave her the evil eye and walked away without giving her the extra 25 cents. Getting overcharged for being a gringa when trying to buy almost anything has been a real annoyance. Every day I ask Mauricio or Lucia how much I should have been charged for, sliced guava for example, and each time they tell me that I payed almost double what Ecuadorians pay. I might have to resort to covering my face and white skin and then asking how much something is. Then again, I´m usually arguing over about twenty five cents. You might think to yourself, ¨what´s the use in arguing over 25 cents?¨, but that small amount will get me a bus ride across Quito...and a 20 ounces of beer.

Speaking of beer, last night was our first night going out on the town. We went to the Mariscal district in New Town and Carson from Texas and his sister who lives here in Quito showed us around. A good time was had by all and we were home safe and sound by 4 in the morning.

Well, today is looking like a good day as far as weather goes so I should get outside and enjoy the scarce sunshine. It has rained the past two days and the temperature has dropped especially during these days. You can all expect pictures soon, and please please please leave comments! We love feedback. It shows us people are reading! -Katie