In the last three years in Bolivia, I can count on one (maybe two) hands, the number of clothes I have purchased here. And 50% of these purchases were related to my brief time teaching PE. Sweatpants. Friends and family have been very generous to send/bring maternity clothes, so even that I haven’t had to buy!
However, in the last few weeks, I have started to buy baby clothes! Partly, I’m just so excited about cute baby clothes that I couldn’t wait to get started. But mostly, it is because of how time consuming clothes shopping is here. I really can’t complain, Cochabamba has SO many options. However, new baby clothes imported from the US are expensive, and the best option seems to be the used clothes section of the market!
I have posted a video
here (If you're short on time skip to 1:30 to see the actual clothes shopping.) from a family in Cochabamba on a clothes shopping trip, but it is generally like a big garage sale. In the market, there are several areas that have blocks of clothing. Each store has a variety of clothes set up like a garage sale in the US. Sometimes there is a great selection of good quality and good prices, and sometimes not. Most of the time, baby clothes cost around $1.50 each, but occasionally there are baskets of clothes for $0.75! Last week, I also found a tomato in this bargain basket- surprise!
Anyway, since the market requires a good 45 minutes by bus, some uphill walking, and lots of patience sorting through clothes, I am trying to finish as much as possible before it’s too late. BUT, if you happen to have extra baby boy clothes lying around, my sister is coming to visit in JUNE, and she has lots of space in her suitcase. She would love to bring baby clothes with her…right Autumn?
Enjoy a virtual shopping trip through picture! ( These are other people's pictures for the most part.)
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| First, we catch the big yellow "Q" bus to the bus terminal at the market. |
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The streets around the bus terminal are crowded, so we wind our way through traffic.
(This is why the pictures are borrowed from google, pick-pocketing is very common in the crowds.) |
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| A few blocks into the market, there are tons of vendors with delicious fruits and vegetables. |
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| There are also some not so nice corners...especially when the trash service is on strike.... |
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| And finally the clothes section....let the treasure hunt begin! |
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| The treasure washed and drying in the "dryer"! |
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| IT"S A BOY! |
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