Descriptive Essay

The Farmers’ Market

Friday nights downtown are full of vivid phrases like:  ¨come here sweetie¨, ¨great sales right here¨, or ¨pay two, take three¨. Phrases that are coming out of the mouths of tons of vendors who are fervently trying to make a living. However, it is not only the sounds that stand out; the people, the colors, and the smells all work in harmony to make the farmers’ market a lively, enjoyable, and interesting place. It is a place where one can see life in so many colors, shapes, and sizes. It is also a place that opens the senses to new tastes, smells, sights, and feelings. Whatever the reason might be for visiting the farmers´ market in Tegucigalpa, there is no doubt that satisfaction and wanting are going to be the two feelings invading a person who is visiting.  

Although the farmers’ market is located in the center of town, it is quite a hustle to get there. First of all, the market is only opened on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, which are the days when traffic is the worst. Secondly, getting a parking space ranges from difficult to nearly impossible; it is a miracle if a person is able to find a parking space. Cars are parked as close as two lovers sharing a secret or as close as a mother and her newborn baby. Ironically, this same spot is a ghost town the rest of the week. But then again, do not let the absence of parking space keep you from visiting the market. There might be a lack of parking space, but there is an abundance of kind gentlemen, wearing orange vests, who are more than willing to find you a parking spot and keep an eye on your car. All of this, of course, is done in exchange for a few lempiras that one might be ready to spare. 

At the entrance of the market, one is met with two dozen oversize, dew-drenched, and colorful containers full of juice. The thirst-quenching juices vary from the everyday orange juice to the exotic concoctions of horchata and pozol. Juicy melon, zesty pineapple, sweet passion fruit, flavorful blackberry, and tangy star fruit are some of the many juices that one will be able to find inside the gigantic containers. Farther into the market one is able to spot the highly acclaimed, since it is always surrounded by buyers, vegetables area. The vegetables are skillfully arranged lengthways on the display tables and carefully separated so the buyer can easily identify them. Green cucumbers, several types of peppers, bright purple eggplants, red tomatoes, and garden grown carrots with their leafy green tops all have a place on the display tables.

To the right of the vegetables area, one can find the fruits stand. The fruits stand is twice as crowded as the vegetable area and there is no reason why it should not be. Just like the vegetables, the fruits have been neatly arranged and separated on the display tables. The strong and sweet smell of the fruits is more than enough to put any person in a diabetic´s coma. The colors of the fruits are that of a rainbow; dark and light reds, bright and sunny oranges, eye catching yellows, vibrant greens and extravagant purples. The fruits are always on high demand and there is no doubt why. Besides being locally grown, the fruits undergo a rigid selection that leaves only the best of the best on display. But do not allow yourself to be fooled by the quality of the fruit. Take all that you want since this is the best place for getting fruits at the cheapest price possible.

The best part of the farmers’ market is the outdoor kitchens. The various smells rising from the different grills can make any person turn into a drooling fool. Spicy chicken roasting, tacos being fried, pupusas steaming, or tamales being unwrapped and seasoned are just some of the examples of food that one will surely be able to find at the market. However, food is not the only thing that people will be enjoying; they will also be appreciating each other´s company and enjoying the fact that food and drinks have brought families together. The conversations between the people are light and cheerful. Laughter mixes in with the smells in the air forming a wonderful mood.

The farmers’ market can be seen as a getaway from the everyday routine. It is a chance to be outside, even if it is just for a little while. It is also a chance to meet new people or run into people you are already acquainted with. There is a deep connection to the community when you actively participate in the growth of the commerce of a country. Friday nights will never get old; the welcoming quality in the air and the continuous change and unending fun, hopefully, will never cease to exist. We must keep our eyes open to the beauty that is all around us and that we constantly take for granted.