Beach Bargains: Relaxed Shopping
Tara A. Spears
Picture a perfect sunny day on the beach: you’re relaxed, enjoying the ocean breeze but feel like a snack. No need to dust the sand off your feet or leave your beach chair because a roving beach vender will bring a treat to you. Besides the many types of delectable edibles like shrimp, donuts, candy, and even ice cream, there are lots of different types of shopping available on the Jaltemba Bay beach. Strolling vendors offer souvenirs such as silver jewelry, sun dresses, T-shirts, hats or sunglasses. You can peruse collectable and unique artesian items like colorful Mexican blankets, polished wood carvings, braided name bracelets, rattan baskets and more. If you’re feeling adventurous, treat yourself to a massage, temporary tattoo or hair braiding services- all from the comfort of your beach chair.
It’s interesting to learn that many of the beach vendors have a shop in town. One family member runs the store while another one brings the wares to potential customers who are vacationing at the beach. That’s why if the vendor says, “Yes, I can bring you another color/size etc.,”
It’s not a line, he will run back to the family store. Be sure to give him adequate time to return because may be he has to take a taxi there and back. In fact, many of the families create the product that is sold! Several that I have met carry on a family trade that they learned from grandparents. As the children get older, they are put to work, either making the product, clerking in the family store, or walking the beach to sell.
Many of the older vendors are illiterate or did not attend school, so they are limited as to what type of work they can do. Another interesting characteristic it that many of the First Nation sellers do not even speak Spanish- it is their second language and English would be the third language. One vendor’s daughter told me, “I had to walk the beach since I was 2 years old. I decided by age 7 that I was going to study hard and get an indoor job.” Not only did she work her way through high school with top grades, she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting- and now she loves her business career with her own desk! Her proud parents still sell on the beach in Guayabitos. Rather than be rude to the vendors, take a little time to talk to them- you’d be surprised at some of the family history.