Saquisili market spreads across the whole town and sells everything from an avocado to a cow. This is the major market in the area and primarily by and for the local indigenous people with a little section of souvenirs for the travellers. Aside from the vast amount of potatoes available here, the interesting bit is the Animal Market.

Chickens, cocks, sheep, alpacas, cows, bulls, pigs and of course guinea pigs galore, this is where all the food for the surrounding areas and establishments is traded. It’s not pretty, but it’s honest.

Other than the randy gay bulls trying to hump each other, all animals look sad and defeated, tied up, hanging out in each other’s shit. The sheep don’t look too bad I guess, I don’t think they understand what’s going on. Pigs seem to be most clued on and therefore the saddest sight. Small animals are tied up into bags after a successful bargain and you can see a few sacks around the market trying to make a run for it, wriggling and rolling blind in whichever direction. 

It all seems very backwards at first, but chances are, it’s far more civilised then the mass meat production of more developed countries. Saquisili is probably as good as it gets. The average meat one finds on a British supermarket counter, vac packed in plastic, is likely to be from far more miserable animals. It is grim what we eat and the suffering we cause to other intelligent species.

I much prefer Saquisili animal market to our secretive and dishonest supermarket system. Here the trade is out in the open, you face your actions and if you still want to eat meat afterwards, then you’re properly informed. A visit to an animal market should become part of the curriculum.

Tuesday 15th January from a beach