Not For Tourists: Guambiano Market in Silvia
Written by Kyle on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 in Colombia
Feelin' thoughtful
Feelin' thoughtful
Thought that I would share some interesting photos from a little trip we took to Silvia, Colombia where we got to witness an indigenous market in action. This was definately not a market geared for tourists, as the things that were sold were mostly potatoes, onions, fruits, and yarn, which the women make by spinning wool by hand. But it was a joy to walk around and watch people interact with each other in their native tounge. The native language is hard to describe; many of the syllables are cut short from the back of the throat (instead of with the tongue or mouth like most western languages) which gives it a decidedly choppy sound, but it is still a wonder to hear. In general, the Guambianos went about as if we weren't there, probably due to shyness, but were really warm and friendly when we talked to them in Spanish. This is a story better told by pictures, so here are some of the best shots we got:
Typical dress of Guambiano women. These women were chatting while spinning wool from bags they were carrying.
Typical dress for a Guambiano man. Similar, but different than the women's clothing.
Guambiano women hanging out on the street
People ride "chivas" to and from town. They are basically really colorful school busses with the seats ripped out and benches put in their place.
Hand-spun yarn for sale
The "onion section" of the market. It smelled really good and fresh. Check out how many Guambianos there are; it was a beautiful sight!
Guambiano man sorting his habichuela (green beans)
More Guambiano women selling onions
I should note here that just because the Guambianos were traditional clothing, it does not mean that they are separated from modern society. We saw several Guambianos using cell phones and I overheard a transtaction of several Guambiano men buying a TV. And why not? Just because they hold on to some traditional ways of life doesn't mean that they have to completely do away with everything modern.
Comments on "Not For Tourists: Guambiano Market in Silvia"
The traditional dress, when seen in abundance at the onion market gathering that you photographed, looks like an adult version of recess at a parochial school. I wonder if the vivid blue with pink trim has some significance? The side split in the male version seems rather daring when so much of the upper torso is heavily draped! Did you understand why some chose this traditional dress while others are in jeans and baseball caps?
you forgot the part about many of them wearing imitation Chuck Taylors. Hip.
by bessie the wife at November 26, 2008 04:31 PM