Let´s go shopping!!
Usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday Saturday or Sunday can be “market Day” or like we say en Central America “Día de Mercado”.
Because this way of market is one of the biggest support the national economy has, the Guatemalan people offer a different kind of fruits and vegetables in a really good condition and good price. But, I have to say and explain the traditions into de market because is important to know it to be part of the environment. The traditional markets in Guatemala has variable prices, that´s why you can negotiate with the seller a best price for you. Is common to ask “¿cuánto cuesta?” Which means “how much is it?” for food like vegetables and fruits , things or anything you would like to buy in the street market, the sales man is going to answer «100 Quetzales» (Guatemala money) and then you ask “¿Tiene rebajas? or ¿lo menos? Which means “the discount is? “ and then you start the negotiation because he or she is going to offer you a new price like “85 Quetzales” and the negotiation continuous until both are in agree.
Only I want to advise; don’t do a big negotiation with a really small price because usually this products has a hard history of work because in agriculture people has to work 10-12 hour a day, with rainy, sun or other weather conditions and is necessary to show respect to all this job. Is just a tradition to ask for a less price but is not a big significance in the price. Actually, the prices for frouts is to chip with a really good condition of the fruits.
For example:
There is seasons when you can buy 15 bananas for only 5 Quetzales, in USA dollas is 0.65 for 15 Bananas, can you imagine what the benefit of this people is?
Is amazing how cheap is why fruits in our markets. The most important thing is, to buy fruits or vegetables in the street market is better compared with supermarket, because the productions of the surrounding areas is sold on the street market and in supermarket or moll the majority part of the vegetables and fruits is imported from other countries, so, it is not to fresh as in the street market.
