The National Artisan market is my favorite market in Nicaragua. It's a great place to buy souvenirs and tours are available explaining the history. In here, they sell local food, baskets, pottery, hammocks, paintings, journals, shoes, t-shirts, and everything under the sun. The level of their creativity is astonishing as they come up with realistic ways to keep things.
In this market, I met some wonderful artists. An artist working strictly through his spiritual force and a painter for 30 years. I just sat and watched the brush slightly move on the canvas. I told them I need to take the time to do it. He said, "God will allow you the time when you are ready." This man left me with something to think about and I love that. His wife was just as kind and complimentary of my passion and my work.
This was pretty strange art
Another woman sat with me and explained with me the different kinds of art she was selling. I was really curious about the bigger women who hold the fruit in pictures. She said these women are "Mesquitas." These women are real women who usually can be found in the markets selling fruit. A famous Nicaraguan artist started this trend, but he did not end up selling many paintings. People did not have the response he was hoping for, but he continued to paint. The Ramas and sumos also come from the villages around Masaya. They are known to be strong and passionate women. While we are speaking, the tourists are in front of me with their tour guide saying and "There are the paintings." Then they just keep walking onto the next venue. It's quite interesting how I sit and have a fifteen minute conversation and they just focus on the shopping. Of course, I don't want it to be this way for people-I don't.
Then I'm next door buying a T-shirt and trying it out strutting down the market like I'm on a cat walk. There was a pink and a black one and I chose the black one.
The problem is that these people were so nice that I just wanted to keep buying from them! The most popular item to buy was a hammock and I found an amazing one for $12, but I did not have enough at the moment. The other ones were $20 and up, which is still a good price, but when you're in the moment you question buying it.
When I came back for this hammock, the guy was gone. But he did give me a Nicaraguan rain stick for $10, which I really just loved. Souvenirs were not my thing, but in this market with the great prices-they were my thing. Paintings were one of my main things to buy and there was an abundance of them. I ended up buying a few paintings from a simply happy boy named Ricky. I bought amazing coffee for my Mom and a few more things for some important people.
After 4.5 hours(average tourist is 2), I left with my happy purchases and went on my way.
Outside the market I did some arepa cooking. This was not for a photo, she let me make one and I was shouting, "Arepas hot and ready," My American magnet only grabbed a few guys-she cashiered and I plated them.
In this market, I met some wonderful artists. An artist working strictly through his spiritual force and a painter for 30 years. I just sat and watched the brush slightly move on the canvas. I told them I need to take the time to do it. He said, "God will allow you the time when you are ready." This man left me with something to think about and I love that. His wife was just as kind and complimentary of my passion and my work.
Ginger Pineapple Juice
Then I'm next door buying a T-shirt and trying it out strutting down the market like I'm on a cat walk. There was a pink and a black one and I chose the black one.
The problem is that these people were so nice that I just wanted to keep buying from them! The most popular item to buy was a hammock and I found an amazing one for $12, but I did not have enough at the moment. The other ones were $20 and up, which is still a good price, but when you're in the moment you question buying it.
Famous Nicaraguan Masks
After 4.5 hours(average tourist is 2), I left with my happy purchases and went on my way.
Outside the market I did some arepa cooking. This was not for a photo, she let me make one and I was shouting, "Arepas hot and ready," My American magnet only grabbed a few guys-she cashiered and I plated them.
(They were almost ready so this was not a difficult task).
Traditional men's Masaya outfit
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