Ailsa at Where’s My Backpack? has a weekly photo challenge of Travel Themes. This week the photo theme is On Display. As she said, “No matter where you go, there’s always something for sale somewhere. The items on display in local stores are often evocative of the flavours and aesthetics of the culture you’re in and make for really interesting photographs.”
My on display photos are from a little roadside store that offers all-natural fruit smoothies, a huge variety of home grown fruits and vegetables, fresh made jams, jellies, and breads, as well as gift items and plants. There is a tiny kitchen with an impressive menu selection, and an indoor dining area.
The first thing I noticed was how colorful everything was, it just invites you to take your time and browse. I really like the bottle tree, and all the plants.
The items displayed on the side of the red shed were also for sale, including the wreath and the pink Mandevilla plant climbing up to decorate it.
On the left of this next picture you can see the edge of a lemon tree, and there were other pots of small fruit trees in a little patio garden.
As soon as you approach the door to go inside you are greeted by this bright yellow Real Fruit Smoothie sign, and huge watermelons under a table that is loaded with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. A large cooler is stocked with fruit smoothie combinations that are blended once your choice is made.
Everywhere you turn are tables or crates with fresh fruits and vegetables of all kinds, even some I didn’t recognize, like these long green things that look like giant green beans. If you like peanuts they have them freshly boiled, or raw to take home and boil or roast your own.
It was very close quarters inside that little place, with only fans to circulate the warm air mixed with smells of ripe fruit and food, and people bumping elbows as we squeezed past each other. But it was a friendly atmosphere, and even though we were all just passing through on a holiday weekend, it was almost like being in a familiar neighborhood market.
I’m sure you noticed the big “Boiled Peanuts” sign in the photo. Have you ever tried boiled peanuts? When I first saw someone eating them and asked what they were my reaction was, “Boiled what!?!” I wondered why anyone would want to boil peanuts and get them all soggy to eat them. I love roasted peanuts, but boiled just didn’t sound good at all. Once I tried them though, I was hooked! I like them so well that I’ve started making my own boiled peanuts.
See Ailsa’s and other Travel Theme photos here, and consider adding your own On Display photos to the theme.
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