In our last post, there was a photograph of a truck loaded with early morning purchases.
Rice, beans, beer, and more!
People from outlying areas come to stock up. Large families, small businesses, ranches — are all folks who buy in quantity. Many people still don’t have cars and don’t come in to town but once every month or two, if that.
Almacen El Cinco Menos. You can get it here.
There are a number of stores like Cinco Menos who cater to those who buy in quantity.
Bulk condiments at Almacen El Cinco Menos, a well-stocked old-style “department store”. Stop here for most of your domestic needs.
Perhaps you need a pound of turmeric?
2935 colones is $5.21USD.
Tea kettle? Cooking pot? Frying pan? Enamel ware?
If you don’t see it, ask for it.
On the town square is “Mundo Magico”, which is ready to sell you any kind of cheap goods you can imagine. Most of their stock comes from China, which in the last decade or so has made huge inroads into the Costa Rican markets.
A magical world of colorful umbrellas.
Pitcher picture…
This is but a partial picture of the store’s pitcher potential.
Big box stores have not yet destroyed small retailing in this country.
(Disclaimer: They’re working on it…)
Little mom and pop businesses are still found on the streets.
Work-waiting, and work-in-progress line the entry to a cobbler shop.
Piggy bank anyone?
Sugary stuff of any kind?…there’s no lack of food coloring here.
It’s still a predominantly Catholic country. Do you need a statuette of a particular saint?
There’s a nursery just a few blocks from the Parque Municipal.
PZ (Perez Zeledon) is listed as the eighth-largest city in Costa Rica.
It’s around 35,00 – 40,000 people these days.
But the scale of much of the city’s life is still small.
Breakfast at the Soda y Heladeria El Angel
Almost everywhere you go, you see direct contact on a human level.
It’s been a concentrated, cheerful, colorful morning.
Giving change for a pepper purchase.
The day is warming, the streets are getting more and more crowded.
And it’s time to head back over the hills and return to the valley…
thetompostpile 