I love buying vegetables at our numerous small verdulerías, but strongly favor the ones that post their prices. Last week the prices for lechuga in our immediate neighborhood varied from 20 to 40 to 59 to 100 pesos/kg, the last being at a shop staffed by a woman with a big friendly smile and no posted prices, who apparently changed her response according to the customer’s appearance and accent.
But generally I am pleasantly surprised at the friendliness of the people who staff these small shops. When we are in Las Cañitas, where we lived in 2005, we still get hugs and warm greetings from Irma, at the verdulería across from our old apartment.
I’m glad these small shops haven’t been put out of business by the huge supermarkets, as the person-to-person contact is very pleasant.