To market, to market

To market, to market

“Burro! Please move,” begged Maria.

Burro, the family’s stubborn donkey, did not want to carry Maria and
her two large sacks to market. But a light touch of the whip did the
trick. Burro began to clip-clop down the narrow, rocky road.

Maria and her family live in Guatemala, a country in Central America.
Maria is on her way to the market place in Santiago Atitlan. Burro is
carrying a large sack of maize (corn) and another sack of wheat. Maria
hopes to sell the maize and wheat to shoppers on the market street in
the town.

When they arrive in Santiago Atitlan, even Burro’s ears perk up.
Everyone is talking, laughing, and bargaining. As the donkey sways down
the street, Maria looks about her. There are people selling fruits and
vegetables. Others have handwoven baskets, rugs, and other articles for
sale. Maria loves the sights and smells of the market place.

There are market places in almost every city in every country. If you
are English, you might go to a greengrocer’s for fruits and vegetables
and to a fishmonger’s for fish and fowl. In the United States, you might
go to a large shopping center. Or in Mexico, Italy, and South Africa,
you might travel to an outdoor market. There you would buy or sell
goods, just as Maria does.

Guatemala

Indians buy, sell, or trade crops and other wares at this outdoor market
in Santiago Atitlan.