Wednesday, March 11, 2015

You Can Buy Anything on the Streets of Mexico. Anything.

Life in Mexico is all about convenience.

If you just need and/or only have the money for a roll of toilet paper, you can buy just one roll. And the best part is that it doesn’t cost any more than buying 350 rolls just to save a $1.

If you want things to come to your door at any given time on any given date, just tell someone and it will happen. Well, it should happen. But then again, we’re still waiting for the dentist…

Right now, I have Antonio knocking on my door every other day at around 12:30pm. He comes up the hill pushing his canopy covered bike (which he doesn’t actually ride) loaded with all the key produce; watermelon, apples, mangos, mandarins, bananas, tomatoes, limes, onions, avocados, jalepaños). I buy enough vegetables for a few days and pay a reduced rate to the store fronts (they have to pay rent). If I’m not around but I know that I really need something, I tell my neighbour and she tells Antonio and he comes back at a time when I’m around. Works for me.

You Can Buy Anything on the Streets of Mexico2

But, sometimes we don’t meet up or he doesn’t have everything I want.

For example, this Monday, he didn’t have mangos. But that’s okay because the Mango truck comes by on Tuesday so I knew that I could get some then. Yes, a truck pulls up in front of my door to sell me mangos. And plantain. And pineapples. Tamales. And so on.

If you need something, I swear the next day you’ll be walking down the street and there will be a person selling what you need. Happened to me recently when I needed a mop and wooden kids chairs. You’d think it was magic or something. But it’s not, it’s just the way Mexico rolls.

And that’s the way it is for everything imaginable.

Yes, everything.

You Can Buy Anything on the Streets of Mexico

Need a Ladder or 30?

Ever Seen Anyone Selling Something Odd?

P.S. Antonio asked me for a copy of the picture I took. Um. It’s a digital picture and no one here prints digital pictures. Only film around here. I’ll take it up to the print shop and have it printed on regular paper.

* You see the set of wheels strategically placed under the (at least 5) ladders running horizontally. Everything is weighted just so one person, one person can push that contraption up and down hills and all around the city. Oh and if you need any chimney sweeps, he sells them too.

** We see things like this every day. The ladders as well as other people selling “odd” wares. We’ve grown so accustomed to it that I don’t usually take pictures of them. Besides, people would think that I was the weird one for taking pictures.

25 thoughts on “You Can Buy Anything on the Streets of Mexico. Anything.

      1. Laurie P

        Well I’ve definitely seen the ladders lol, a few minutes from downtown. And those elderly men on the ancient bikes offering knife sharpening has always made me wonder… since I was a kid. I’m in Niagara region now, but I dearly miss all the quirkiness of the city lol

        Never a dull moment.

        Reply
        1. Sarah Post author

          Dear Laurie,

          The sharpening guy goes by several times a week. You can tell it’s him because he has a particluar whistle. ALL the sharpening guys in the city have the same whistle. And then there’s the water trucks with their different jingles and the guy selling fish. The Kids can rhyme off all the different sounds and phrases that the people yell selling their wares. If there’s a lull in the streets, I’ve never heard it. Not even at 2am as someone will be setting off a firework somewhere. Must get it on video…

          Like you said, never a dull moment.

          Besos, Sarah.
          Sarah recently posted…What I Learned From A Classroom of 5-Year Olds #MexicoMy Profile

          Reply
          1. Laurie P

            YES there was always someone letting of a firework somewhere in the distance. Didn’t really mind it, actually got used to it lol. Or the guy who just HAD TO rev his dinosaur of a car super early in the a.m.

            Now that I have a little one again, I’d curse whom ever woke us with all that. lol

            Have a great day!

  1. Aliya D

    I kinda love it! I love being in a place that has this eclectic retail mix; somehow it makes it more human.

    Reply
  2. Peady @ Tempered with Kindness

    I really want to visit Mexico.

    I think it would be so fun to be able to wander around and take it all in, the way you do (as opposed to going to an all inclusive resort). Your way is *way* more interesting and educational.

    So, what *else* did you see for sale today?
    Peady @ Tempered with Kindness recently posted…First FridayMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Sarah Post author

      Dear Peady,

      The mop guy went by. I tried to take a video of the gas truck but I took a picture instead. Not the same thing because you can’t hear the song that the truck is singing.

      I’m just writing a post about how we’re the “Worst Tourists” because we’re not tourists at all. Alhtouhg our Candian friends think we are and from look alone, so do the Mexicans.

      I’ve done an all inclusive resort once. I didn’t learn anything about the local culture. I thought I did but now I realize that I only saw a “foreign” look at it and what they wanted me to see. The real deal IS dirty but not as bad as they think it is.

      Let me know when you want to come for a visit.

      Besos Sarah.
      Sarah recently posted…Do You Support Companies That Give Back To Animals in Need? @PetcureanMy Profile

      Reply
  3. heidi c.

    When I was travelling in Ghana, West Africa, my running shoes and towels were stolen off a clothesline. I realized why when we visited the market and found piles of old shoes & linens. I couldn’t be mad as clearly someone else needed the money badly to want my ancient running shoes!

    Reply
  4. Anne Taylor

    Sounds like quite the handy service! I can’t imagine having a local veggie/fruit/produce cart coming by but it would be grand!

    Reply
      1. MrsWhite

        Hi Sarah – Sorry about the late reply, it’s been a hectic weekend! I wanted to let you know, I will definitely list your giveaways on my blog. I never list referral links (the ones you see were actually just put up for an *extra* personal entry). But I want to get that page cleaned up a bit and looking a bit nicer, hopefully I can get that done this week!

        Reply
        1. Sarah Post author

          Dear MrsWhite,

          No need to apologize. Life happens.

          Thank you very much for offering to list my giveaways. I really appreciate it even though it isn’t for an “extra personal entry” (I know what you’re talking about). Your time is valuable.

          I spent over an hour on your site the other night entering giveaways and I’ve added you to my bookmarks. I thank you for the great listing but my sleep (or lack thereof) doesn’t 🙂

          Besos Sarah.
          Sarah recently posted…Why We Sold Everything We Owned and Moved to Mexico #travelMy Profile

          Reply
          1. MrsWhite

            Thank you so much for visiting and bookmarking my blog. That really made my day! I don’t have a huge viewer profile yet, so it feels great to know someone is on there having some fun lol! I wanted to let you know too, I have listed your giveaways. I am still not sure how I want that page laid out exactly..But I did want to get them up there, it’s important 🙂
            MrsWhite recently posted…Bacon Wrapped Lil SmokiesMy Profile

  5. Soozle

    That is one of my favorite things about Mexico – the random carts of random objects or the markets that seem to have no rhyme or reason to them 🙂

    Reply

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