Street Performers

Santiaguinos are rarely short on opportunities to buy ice cream. Apart from the normal ice cream parlors, ice cream trucks, and ice cream stands, there are also vendors who will climb on bus after bus carrying boxes of ice cream and drinks. “Helado!” they shout. “Helado bebida! Helado bebida cigarillos! Helado bebida!” Ice cream. Ice cream and drinks. Ice cream drinks cigarettes. Ice cream and drinks.” The rhythm is both familiar and comforting, the strangest sort of urban lullaby.

It is not at all uncommon for vendors to walk out through lanes of traffic to sell ice cream, drinks, and fresh produce to waiting motorists at red lights. Street performers will do the same thing. And when I say street performers, I mean it in the most literal sense. They confidently walk out in front of stopped cars while juggling or twirling plates on sticks. They do a short performance, and somehow always seem to budget enough time to walk through the traffic to collect their fee. Today I saw a man wearing a clown nose juggle and balance batons on his forehead while riding an extra-tall unicycle. I cursed myself for not having my camera with me.