I will post photos of some of the people that graciously posed for me.
This lady, with a farmers stall at the Amasra's Women's Market, agreed to let me take her picture.
I finally coaxed a reserved smile out of her.
After I took her photo and showed it to her, she offered me a taste of some of her fruit.
She must have been satisfied with my efforts.
It is also one of the highest navigable lakes in the world,
sitting at about 3,812 metres (12,500 feet) above sea level.
It is in the Andes and shared between Peru and Bolivia.
For centuries, the lake has been home to Indigenous communities that still maintain traditional farming, fishing, weaving and ceremonies.
In Bolivia it can carry a lot of meaning beyond just
appearance.
The traditional clothing worn by many Indigenous women in
Bolivia, especially Aymara and Quechua women, is a visible statement of Bolivian
culture.
The outfit has the traditional basics, and then, each woman adds her own personal touch.
Not all the women wore the traditional clothing, but those that did, wore it with pride.
The entrance to the Mercado Central de Santiago isn't too exciting.
But, inside it is a beautiful building.
It was built between 1869 and 1872 to replace an older
market that had been destroyed by fire.
Interestingly, it was designed by a Chilean architect, manufactured
in Scotland and then shipped in pieces to Chile.
In 1984 it was declared a National Monument.
And another Claim to Fame: National Geographic has ranked it among the top food markets in the world.
Tlaquepaque was founded in the 16th century during the early colonial period of New Spain.
Its name comes from Nahuatl and roughly means “place above clay land,” reflecting the area’s rich soil for pottery and ceramics.
It is famous for its artisans, galleries, and traditional
Mexican culture.
Today, Tlaquepaque has been amalgamated as a suburb of Guadalajara.
It is a hub for handicrafts, including glass, textiles, and painted ceramics.
(One of the downsides to being retired, is being “old”.)
So we figured while we were in the “neighbourhood” we’d pop
down to Guadalajara, Mexico.
Guadalajara was founded in 1542.
The Spanish colonial city
One day we were sitting down getting ready to have lunch and there were a group of beautifully dressed teenage girls outside.
I went over and asked them if I could take their pictures.
"YES!!!"
They were so excited, asking me questions and curious about where I was from. But most importantly, ready to pose for photos.
Teenagers.....
The trains connect major cities, towns and remote countryside areas.
Sri Lanka is said to be home to some of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.
We took the famous route from Kandy to Ella, considered "one of the world’s most breathtaking train journeys, passing through Nuwara Eliya, misty mountains, waterfalls and tea fields."
Apparently, something we didn’t know, was that this route is notoriously late and unreliable.
I was worried about overcrowding and poverty.
But the friendliness and warmth of the people can not be described and my fears were quickly put to rest.
We met these schoolgirls coming out of the National Museum in Delhi on our first day.
They wanted us to take their pictures, shake our hands, say hello, know where we came from.
Teenagers! Wanting to talk to adults!
Welcome to India!
There are stalls with typical products such as fruits and vegetables.
And then there are stalls with spices, natural dyes, perfumes, sweets and handcrafts.
For me, the most amazing section was the flower vendors.
Delhi is located in northern India and is the country's capital.
As of 2025 Delhi's metropolitan area population is estimated to be approximately 34.67 million.
It is "estimated" because censuses are taken every 10 years, and in 2021, the census year, it was not taken because of COVID.
The population density is about 11,900 individuals per square kilometer, making it one of the most densely populated regions in the world.
Delhi has a rich history, dating back over 2,500 years.
It has been the seat of many empires, including the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.
I have to admit, I felt intimidated.
Food stands also seem to be a great place to find people.
Both places work well for people watching and taking photos.
In no particular order, random photos of people in Mexico City.
Every Sunday the city’s central square has a tradition of entertainment and market stalls.
On the main stage traditional jarana dancers in embroidered huipiles perform to live music.
Mercado Lucas de Gálvez was established in 1887 in Merida’s historic centre.
It is the city's main market.
It is enormous and covers 45,000 sqm (over 484,000 sq ft) with more than 2,000 vendors.
It isn’t a tourist market but it’s a working market for the locals to shop for their daily items.
The maze of narrow walkways are lined with small stalls selling fresh produce, meat, seafood, spices, textiles, traditional clothing, handmade hammocks, pottery, and everyday household items.
I am not one for people watching.
I am usually too shy to stare at people because I think I am invading their space and their privacy.
And I am definitely too mortified to ask if I can take their picture.
But every once in a while I will stop and look at the people and surreptitiously take photos of them.
So invariably my photos are not very good.
Here is a selection of my best efforts at People Watching in San Miguel, in no particular order.
The markets reflect the rich art, culture and gastronomy of the city.
‘Tianguis’ means an open air market.
Tianguis de los Martes is one of the weekly markets that takes place every Tuesday just outside of the center of San Miguel de Allende.
The civil war began in 1910 to end the struggle against the President and Dictator Porfirio Diaz.
Under his rule, the gap between the rich and poor widened and political freedom was suppressed.
The revolution lasted for 10 years.
San Miguel celebrates the landmark day with a parade.
