Guadalajara, Jalisco. – The ‘Baratillo’ an iconic place in Guadalajara, where you can find everything you can imagine, fruit, vegetables, clothes, food, jewelry, bike parts, movies, music CDs, electronic lenses and even animal sales, known as the largest of Latin America.
But what about a place that has so much conglomeration of people? when the government implements precautionary measures with events where many people attend, what will happen to the people who attend this and other tianguis because this is their livelihood of life? The route is long, about 50 blocks long and about 10 thousand stalls that each Sunday gather on Juan R. Zavala street, from the Glorieta Santa María, located in the colony that bears the same name; until Alvaro Obregón street.The locals arrive around 5:00 in the morning to put their stalls and leave until 4:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon, even some earlier as is the case of Tania, who works with her husband in a film venue , the position is large and is a family business, where everyone has integrated.
Film stand at the Guadalajara Baratillo
Photo: Mariana Orozco
“27 years, we’ve always been here, we’ve just been spreading […] I like the trade, I have always liked it, if it is heavy, all day, we get here at 4:00 in the morning and we are leaving about 5:00 in the afternoon more or less “shares Tania.” There are people who things don’t serve and come and claim, or there are very nice people who even leave you a tip, there are people who tell you their life, there are everything”The locals pay a weekly permit, every time they put the place and the town hall arrives and charges them , are given a newsletter as if it were a permit or proof that the fee has already been paid. But they must also face the thefts suffered by the customers, the violence, at the heavy pace, and even the crime that the tiangueros live within the same place.
Movies at Sunday’s bartender.
Photo: Mariana Orozco.
It is the case of Rolando, who mentions that he has 14 years working in that tianguis, selling to the people of snacks, such as peanuts, sweets, nuts, but who a few years ago had to move from place because of insecurity.” It’s mine, i’m four years old here, I’m 14 in total, but I moved because there was a lot of crime where my job was,” says Rolando.He’s always been a trader, and mentions that people have always been constant in his business, that the whole year is the same flow as people .
Snacks at the Baratillo.
Photo: Mariana Orozco.
Catalina has 20 years selling in that tianguis, she also sells snacks and one of the attractions of her business is that in the position they have they are garapiña in front of people, the aromas take over the smell, which takes you straight to the stall of the merchant.” The business is my brother’s, I’m his employee, he’s 30 years old selling here […] It started with 10 trays, now it’s 80″ “The sales are not what it was before, it’s getting harder and more difficult the situation, but there are very loyal customers, in fact, they look for him (his brother) if they don’t see it, they don’t come, it’s that he’s the one who garapiña” , says Catherine.
Snacks, sweets, garapiñados, peanuts.
Photo: Mariana Orozco
The colors, smells, noises, the crowd, put the senses alert to all the things you observe is in the place, there are many locals from years ago, and every place where you turn you will find some visual appeal, something that catches you. You can also find sale of animals, rabbits, pigeons, Australian parrots, daredland, roosters and ducks, are some of the species that you can find in the Baratillo.Juan is a seller of messenger pigeons for 10 years, in that tianguis. These birds are trained to compete in disputes from 400 to 1,3000 kilometers. The chicks get a chip, take it and release them so they fly and take their time. According to the seller, the prizes can be from 500 thousand pesos, to larger amounts.
Sale of animals in the Baratillo.
Photo: Mariana Orozco.
“They last up to 15 or more years, two and a half months (sold) is when they start eating alone […] there are pigeons of different prices, from 80 pesos to 200 or 300 pesos”This is a hobby for Juan, he weekdays he dedicates himself to something else (he did not want to share it) he likes to raise the chicks and sell them, feed them and watch them grow and then go to the tianguis and sell birds. Walking the tianguis is tired, you walk online and it seems that it will never end, but it is also illustrative, it is cultural, find people eating, in tacos, in the stall of the carnitas, in the tejuinos, or buying reeds in the market.
Merchandise stalls at the Baratillo.
Photo: Mariana Orozco.
Ignacio Orozco, have a place selling sugar canes, they also sell juice from the cane, outside of what he calls the cane market, because according to the account of the local, his father would be among the first to reach the tianguis. The business was his dad who started it, then his brother who passed away, and now his nieces (his brother’s daughters) and his sister-in-law take care of the business and he helps them to work.” Here we are about 50 years old, I came from a boy and I have already more than 50 […] here all the people we welcome it, there are people who are customers for years and they continue to buy us, already big people, sons of the lords who came with my dad keep buying us”, mentioned Ignacio Orozco.
Sale of sweet cane on the Sunday Baratillo.
The colors, the variety, the flavors complement the tour, the stories of the locals. The cultural history that this site represents makes every time you come you get to know a new part, or you find yourself a new position because it gets a little bigger and bigger. Baratillo is known as the longest tianguis in Latin America, and the oldest in the city, people come to it on Sundays, with their family attend for breakfast or lunch, to buy snacks, have a tejuino and eat sweet reeds.
People go for breakfast or lunch at Sunday’s Baratillo in Guadalajara.
Photo: Mariana Orozco
They look for the movies, or the clothes that are found and are fashionable. Some are also looking for fruit, vegetables, or any utensils along the way, if you’ve never been to this place, it may be time for you to take a spin and get to know this iconic place for the city with your own eyes.
