Beach Vendors

Today Patty & I took a couple buses to check out the town of Sayulita. We'd been told by several people that it was much nicer than Punta de Mita and they recommended it highly. The town is much like others we've seen in Mexico but with more shops and restaurants and it seems a bit "Americanized" in comparison. Still, the streets are mostly bumpy rocks and there is dust everywhere. The beaches are all quite different and this one was no exception. One thing that seems to be a constant is the large number of vendors who spend their days walking up and down, up and down trying to sell you everything from temporary tattoos to jewelry to clothing. It is difficult at best to just relax with a book on the beach because of the constant barrage of locals hawking their goods. The majority seem to be women - often with a child or three in tow, but a surprising number are children themselves. The youngest I've seen so far was a tiny girl who appeared to be under 5 trying to sell toys under the tutelage of her mother. Apparently these folks are hired by shop keepers who pay them on commission. In Punta Mita there were several young women who would come by with jewelry or pareos or dresses and after they'd been told "no" by everyone on the beach they would change to a different colored apron or hat and come by again with something new...blankets or wooden carvings etc. It has to be an incredibly difficult way to make a living - if they do - and I can't imagine what effect the constant rejection must have on their self esteem. I love the beaches but the continual harrassment takes some of the fun out of just enjoying the sand, sun and ocean.