I went downtown today to visit the mercado central in the center of Lima. This place is located near the Av. Abancay. Here is a map below showing where its located.


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This market is huge and it's usually packed full of people shopping for items ranging from toys to kitchenware. During the afternoon til about 9:30pm the streets are filled with shoppers, vendors, salesmen/women, and carretas (the guys who carry merchandise from the supply trucks to the shops). Since Fiestas Patrias (28th of July/Independence Day) is coming up soon all the stores are selling flags and other patriotic paraphanilia. In fact, in some districts there are laws that require all citizens to show their pride and patriotism by displaying the Peruvian flag on their business establishment or dwelling. Failure to do so could mean a ludicrous fine for being antipatriotic, however these antique laws just like the ones in the States are rarely if ever carried out. The picture taken below is of a women and her child who were sitting on the side of the street selling snacks like roasted candied peanuts and chifles (salted plantain chips).