shari - 7-28-2015 at 08:35 AM
The thread on the big store burning down in BOLA prompted some reflection on small town shopping that I thought might be useful for some folks new to
Baja.
I often hear people making comments like..."that store didnt have anything" and passing that info on. This may have been true the day they went to the
store for several reasons like...the delivery truck didnt come in, or what happened a few weeks ago in the cooperative store...the fishermen hadnt
been paid for 20 weeks so the cooperative was in some serious financial difficulty so they couldnt buy good to stock their store...but other stores
had everything no problem.
Small towns have stores that vary and some stock different items other than what the main delivery truck brings to most stores. Some have ranch
contacts that bring delicious fresh ranch cheese, veggies and fruit. Others have liquor and a good variety of beverages and junk food, one store has
different meat etc.
The point is that shopping is a cultural experience in that you need to visit several stores to get the best choice of what you want. Unlike NOB, you
are expected to greet everyone as you enter the store and chit chat with the cashier asking about her family and a bit of gossip usually...which also
occurs as you meet locals by the beer fridge too. This is why a simple trip to town to pick up a couple things always takes more than an hour!
Shopping is a big part of my Spanish Immersion program as it is such a big part of the culture here. There are small neighbourhood stores on nearly
every block and even though they are a bit more expensive, folks go there to patronize the place as well as socialize with the store clerks and not
use gas to go to the bigger store.
Not so long ago...people had no kitchen cupboards to speak of so they bought what they needed for the day or the meal. Most kitchens only had a bag of
rice, lard, sugar, salt and some flour on hand and just strolled to the store before preparing food so it was usually fresh. I was always embarrased
to open my cupboards as they were stuffed with...stuff.
So the next time you are in a small village ask or wander around to visit the many stores..that may not be obvious or in someones house...you may be
pleasantly surprised at what you find!
David K - 7-28-2015 at 08:37 AM
Thank you Shari!
One needs to adjust to local foods, conditions and customs to really enjoy their 'out-of-country' experience!
vandenberg - 7-28-2015 at 08:39 AM
Great post Shari!!
shari - 7-28-2015 at 08:59 AM
I think its funny when people ask me if there are stores here to buy supplies...there are over 2,500 people here who have to eat! True there are
things you cant get here like asparagus, spinach and pork chops but these are replaced by things you cant get NOB like fresh ranch cheese, fresh and I
mean FRESH seafood, tamales, lots of homemade food like empanadas and sweet breads.
Osprey - 7-28-2015 at 09:08 AM
After shopping for 20 years in our little stores, the clerks know what I usually buy and sometimes they help this old forgetter by reminding me they
don't see on the counter something I regularly buy. They don't do that at Safeway I bet. They also won't let me pay for anything with an old sell by
date or damaged fruit or veggies.
BajaBlanca - 7-29-2015 at 09:25 AM
very good post! so true and so different from US! and so wonderful since it makes you go to different stores looking for the tomatoes or the
potatoes or the sugar LOL
DaliDali - 7-29-2015 at 09:43 AM
I live within spitting distance of a small nieghborhood tienda.
Delivery trucks will sell me anything off the truck, on the spot.
Cash and carry I suppose....
Yesterday I just bought a whole chicken and chicken wings off the Bachoco truck and the natural orange juice guy delivers how ever many bottles I want
right to my kitchen counter....at the same price he sells to the tienda.
Udo - 7-30-2015 at 04:36 PM
That is what part of the adventure is when traveling to BA or other smaller towns.
One has to adjust with what is available.
woody with a view - 7-30-2015 at 04:57 PM
the best thing they have in the tienditas are big smiles! you don't get many of those in the mega's NOB.
Mexitron - 7-31-2015 at 05:03 AM
That's exactly how we ate our meals when we were camping around the Asuncion area--drive into town and try different stores every day, and of course
load up on ice and beer. Didn't miss the big stores at all and loved the uniqueness of each market.
Alan - 7-31-2015 at 10:27 AM
Shopping in this manner is not limited to just the smaller, rural towns. I've come to do the very same thing even here in La Paz. Even with huge
Mega-marts to choose from I often drive all over town just depending on who has what, when. The blessing is that here I can find the freshest of just
about everything I could ever need - somewhere