La Vega

There is this sight and smell heavy market called La Vega here in Santiago. It's big as a city block, covered, and filled with food. It's a magical and strange place to grocery shop. You name it, La Vega has it. Fruits, veggies, grains, fish, meat, and more More MORE! You wind your way along all these tiny walkways passing vendor after vendor selling food for every type of stomach and imagination. It's on counters, in barrels, in pretty colorful piles, sitting on ice, and wafting in the air around you. My squeamish stomach did anxious somersaults at the sight of stomach, tongue, braided intestine, hooves, and other animal parts. The smells that went along with them moved my curious self quickly down the walkway. The huge barrels of spices, every kind of dried fruit and grain, and big luscious fruits and veggies I didn't mind at all. I just imagined what an enjoyment it must be to shop here. A place alive and vivaciously centered around our stomachs! Definitely my kind of place. There's also a tiny walkway packed with what you could call miniature restaurants. All the while you are walking along, trying to make a decision, you are being courted to eat here or there. Your choices are many for such a small space. Once you do decide though, you find that there are no menus, but friendly service that quickly brings you a hot plate of today's special.