The river market

We were out the door early again this morning because we had a 50 km drive out of the city to reach the floating market.  This huge floating market has been around for a long time, built along an ancient system of canals.  The shops are lining the canals in the thickest part of the market.  As you get closer by boat, there are more and more people selling things from shore.  You can buy original art, clothes, jewelry, fruit, and all kinds of food.  Some ladies prep and cook food in small wooden river boats.  It's a bustling place of commerce with hundreds of little shops and boats.  The houses lining the canals away from the shops are lovely.  This is not a poor area.  We saw lots of charming wood homes with flowers and gardens and little family shrines.  Well-fed dogs gazed at us happily as we went past.  We had a really fun time shopping from our small boats, occasionally scrambling out to examine something more closely.  Later we walked in the landslide market, finding the last minute gifts we need for everyone at home and sampling more of the local food.