A couple of weeks ago we traveled to beautiful Ensenada Baja Mexico, I've shared videos with you while we were traveling. Today I'd like to share something different. Whenever I travel I personally love visiting places where the locals go such as grocery stores, pharmacies, parks, malls, etc.
Not exactly to shop, but mostly because I find it fascinating to observe and find differences but also what every City has in common with another. In this case I visited a grocery store and let me tell you it is not your regular super market.
The variety of products is endless! For example say you are looking for yogurt, here in Silicon Valley when I've gone to buy some at a local grocery store I only see a regular size refrigerator with all the options, but in Baja I found not one, not two but three! Yes, that's right three large refrigerators filled with all the different options.
Did you say you were looking for fish? Well it's fresh caught this morning, you can buy it whole or in fillet, they will also clean it for you at no extra charge!
As for the deli counter, I loved it so much! the fact that you say how much you want of each and the service... Wow, let me tell you Mexico knows a lot about customer service. At the grocery store they were so nice and helpful. Well here are some images of what I am talking about. Next time you travel make it a point to visit a grocery store or a drugstore just to see what you find in common. :)
I worked in the grocery retail industry for 13 years so whenever I travel somewhere new I have to visit their local grocery store to see the differences in products and services. =) Neat post
ReplyDeleteThank you, I love visiting malls, grocery stores and pharmacies. In Mexico pharmacies are very different, the only sell medications and some also have snacks and toiletries. But all of the ones I've been to have a mirrored wall for some reason haha. I used to collect newspapers from wherever I traveled to compare them, just a couple of months ago I threw them all out... As they were ruined. :(
DeleteI would be so lost and confused. My face would read "train wreck" all over it!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
LOL.. I don't think it would. I am sure they would help immediately, I was looking for some tomato sauce and could not find it, not even 2 seconds of me walking out of an aisle and employee walked up to me and asked if she could help me find something. Then she turned around and spoke completely in english to another customer! :D Mexicans, are very friendly! and in Baja mostly bilingual! :D
Deletethanks for your sweet comments & tweets! xo
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! :D I do it because I truly love all you post! I do read it everytime you post, I can't always comment with the kids and all but I do try. :D
DeleteFun! I can't believe how long I've lived just a few hours from Baja and yet I've never been. I also like to visit grocery stores when I travel, but I've never thought to check out pharmacies.
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful and people are so nice! I have Baja in my heart and mind always... Pharmacies are so different, maybe next time I will take pictures of one :D
DeleteGoing to markets or stores in other countries is a blast. It's so much fun to see what is the same (not much) and what is different. It's usually the fresh produce section I get stuck in because of the different items I haven't see before. :-)
ReplyDeleteBTW: Thanks for the awesome comment. it meant allot to me. :-)
Yes the produce department is interesting in other countries and even here in California! I will have to photograph some grocery stores in our area and show how different their produce section to the ones I had been to in San Diego :) Dairy is another place to notice differences.
DeleteP.S. You're welcome. I loved it so much I even pinned it on pinterest and believe I have gotten 4 re-pins! :D
Oh what a memory you brought forth! When I was married, a bunch of us rented a house in Baja for 2 weeks--2 guys cooking and 3 girls hanging out by the pool, the beach, shopping.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the grocery store and it was so surreal--very familiar but very different at the same time. I don't remember how much we spent, but I do know that we ate very well that week!
Ann, that's because everything looks and is so delicious! not to mention fresh. I can easily spend my money on groceries there and makeup recipes :D I could also go crazy in the deli department! Ok now I am really craving some fresh cheese or maybe some yoghurt? or maybe some "pan dulce"... ;)
DeleteI've been to Cancun and Rosarita...the latter being dangerous when I went.
ReplyDeleteIs there a chance you could make me a button for my blog?
Rosarito is a tranquil beach town, we drive passed it every time we visit Ensenada which is just 45 minutes south. As for the blog button, I'd love to. email me at strllradvsocal {at} hotmail {dot} com ;)
DeleteI love checking out the markets in other countries. They are so different than ours. I have not been to Mexico in a while, I have loved their candies since childhood (the colorful astropops were my favorite). Thanks for sharing your visit!
ReplyDeleteOh yes Mexican candies are so different and very colorful. Some are spicy {something I love!} Maybe next time I will share images of a candy store full of piñatas -which are works of art-. Glad I was able to take you back to your childhood with this post :D
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