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Shopping
Tico Style
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This morning
we set out to explore San Jose to find a place to get
my hair cut. The streets were packed with people rushing
about and cars and buses packed the narrow streets,
making our walk to the central market more like a game
of Frogger than a casual stroll through San Jose.
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When
we arrived at the central market we found a police man
and asked,"Donde esta la tienda de cortar mi pelo?"
or "Where is a store that will cut my hair?"
He smiled at our feeble attempt to speak Spanish and lead
us down a maze of narrow dimly-lit corridors crammed with
stalls selling everything from underwear and umbrellas
to sea turtle eggs and fish heads. |
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We soon found ourselves in front of
a beauty shop of sorts and were invited inside. After
some gesturing and some broken Spanish with a splash
of English. I was sitting in the barber's chair ready
for a new hairdo. The gesturing continued through out
my hair cut and I think everyone in the shop was a little
nervous at first, but in the end I walked out with a
great hair cut for 1000 colones, or about $2.50 US!
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With my sharp looking hair cut we were ready to do some more
shopping! In many ways the market is like going to a grocery
store and Walmart at the same time. However, the market is
made up of dozens of little stores. You might buy some medicinal
plants at one shop and the walk 30 feet and buy a new pair
of Levi's from a different vender. The sights and sounds were
overwhelming, and I can't wait to go back to the central market!
Keep exploring,
Dave
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