Or so I thought.
Allow me to back up...
Everyone has something to peddle on the beach -- sailboats in a bottle, fried fish, candy, coconut water, cervaza -- you name it, someone's selling it.
Throughout the day, vendors walk along the beach pushing their goods to the sun-soaking crowds. Though it can be annoying at times, it´s not untolerable and actually, it´s quite convienent (read: a large cold beer for 50 cents... without getting up).
Scene: Me lying in a beach chair watching the ongoings of the ocean and its visitors floundering within. Vendors were walking by witout notice. Then, I saw a 40-something-year old woman flashing beach-goers a photo flip-book filled with pictures of little girls ranging in age from about six to 12. I nearly fell out of my seat. W.T.F.
Immediate thoughts:
- OMG. They really do sell children here.
- Does Angelina have one of these?
- That kid looks kinda of old. Aren´t infants top-sellers?
- Those girls in the photos have sweet braids.
- Does my mom really want grandkids that bad?
My mind raced for the next hour. I was dying to ask what the photo album was about, but for obvious reasons, I just... couldn´t.
Another 40 minutes went by.
Then, I saw the child peddler (CP) walk through my view once again. This time, a family of five (two girls, one boy, mom, dad) stopped her.
OMG. This is actually happening.
After witnessing a heated two minutes of price negotiations, the woman with the photos sat down with the family. My Spanish isn´t primo yet, but I think they settled on a price of $4.
I´m mortified.
At this point I´m at the edge of my chair blatantly staring at the exchange. The CP, still sitting with the family, whips out a brush and starts grooming one of the girls´ hair. Then, she begins braiding it and...
Then, I felt like the biggest jackass on the planet.
Allow me to back up...
Everyone has something to peddle on the beach -- sailboats in a bottle, fried fish, candy, coconut water, cervaza -- you name it, someone's selling it.
Throughout the day, vendors walk along the beach pushing their goods to the sun-soaking crowds. Though it can be annoying at times, it´s not untolerable and actually, it´s quite convienent (read: a large cold beer for 50 cents... without getting up).
Scene: Me lying in a beach chair watching the ongoings of the ocean and its visitors floundering within. Vendors were walking by witout notice. Then, I saw a 40-something-year old woman flashing beach-goers a photo flip-book filled with pictures of little girls ranging in age from about six to 12. I nearly fell out of my seat. W.T.F.
Immediate thoughts:
- OMG. They really do sell children here.
- Does Angelina have one of these?
- That kid looks kinda of old. Aren´t infants top-sellers?
- Those girls in the photos have sweet braids.
- Does my mom really want grandkids that bad?
My mind raced for the next hour. I was dying to ask what the photo album was about, but for obvious reasons, I just... couldn´t.
Another 40 minutes went by.
Then, I saw the child peddler (CP) walk through my view once again. This time, a family of five (two girls, one boy, mom, dad) stopped her.
OMG. This is actually happening.
After witnessing a heated two minutes of price negotiations, the woman with the photos sat down with the family. My Spanish isn´t primo yet, but I think they settled on a price of $4.
I´m mortified.
At this point I´m at the edge of my chair blatantly staring at the exchange. The CP, still sitting with the family, whips out a brush and starts grooming one of the girls´ hair. Then, she begins braiding it and...
Then, I felt like the biggest jackass on the planet.
don't despair my friend. i'm sure you can still find a sweetly braided young south american child to bring home.. maybe even in a little glass jar with a cheap beer. your mom will be thrilled! :-)