The details are wonderful relflections of what is on sale in the daily markets – notice the brooms and basketry objects, small miracles of minature construction; and the hats, jewellery and musical instruments down the left edge of the upper pic.

Lots of people are either shopping, or offering, as one Egyptian market vendor expressed it last year, to “Let me help you spend your money madam!” I have to say, though, the marketing was less directly aggressive. In Egypt I found that vendors would even gently take hold of my arm or wrist to direct my attention or try to make me head in a particular direction. In Peru there was constant verbal pressure sotto voce, and goodness, I would love to have bought up something from every stall, but everyone knows that can’t be.

Over on the right of the lower pic are some of the fruits and vegetables, as heaped up in every general market amongst the household items.

These are major works of the miniaturist’s art, quite up there with other examples like dolls houses or ships in bottles, IMHO. I have never been bitten by the bug, but do appreciate the work of people who love doing this.