Los Mercados (The "Markets")

There are several different types of markets we've experienced so far in Granada and surrounding areas.  There is the supermarket, which is very similar to what we'd have in the US but much smaller; there is the "Mercado Municipal" (the Municipal Market), which is a combination outdoor/indoor market where you can buy everything from dogfood, to fruit, to meat, to chairs at a very good price; there are the Mercados Artesenias (handicraft market) for tourists where you can buy handicrafts made here in Nicaragua and surrounding countries; and there are also what I am calling "mobile markets" where vendors carry a wide range of food up and down the streets (on their heads, on carts, or on bicycles), calling out what they are selling, so that you can buy them from your front door. 

We visited the Masaya Mercado Nacional de Artesenias, which is the biggest handicraft market in the area when Raul's family was here.  It is very well organized wtih a lot of vendors selling a range of handmade things including hammocks, ceramics, paintings, clothes, carved wooden items, jewelry, etc...plus some unique items seen below.

Some lovely breast mugs saying things like "Try me if you'd like"

Copulating and drinking frogs/toads.  We are not sure if they are real--t

hey seem stuffed.

These photos got out of order, but wanted to show one of the puppet/folklore costumes below in action in Granada.

Not for sale, but wanted to share. They are costumes for dancing and telling folktales.

    

A "juice bar" inside the market. One of the best things here are the wide variety of delicious fresh fruit smoothies and juices.

The Mercado Municipal is THE place to go to get cheap fruit, cheese, rice, beans etc... in Granada  We typically walk there and depending on the weight of our load, carry our goods home or take a taxi.  It is hot and hectic in the market so we don't do it always (the convenience of someone bringing it right to your door is appealing, even if it costs a little more), but are always amazed at the deals you can get.  The most astonishing one to me is that right now you can get a dozen (yes 12) mangoes for about 80 cents.  And of course they are super fresh and sweet.

The main tourist strip/street in Granada, which is called La Calzada, now has a large number of handicraft stalls set up at the beginning of the street.  These were not here when we came last summer and is an indicator of how much the tourism is growing.  Its also a reminder of the poverty as many of the people who have the booths just put a tarp over their table at night and sleep under the table.  We have seen a number of people doing this, including children.