Rusty's Markets in Cairns

I had the Sunday morning all to myself in Cairns. It was our third day there, so I decided to take a walk. A friend casually mentioned that I should visit a market in the city. The location of this recommended market was not clear to me at that point, but I figured I had a few hours to roam. If I was a market, where would I be?

A sprinkling of non-tourist-like people were walking in the same direction as I was and seemed to know what they were doing. The intuition to follow led me to Rusty's Markets.

That was a proper weekend fruit and veggies market. And then there were the purple-and-red ladies again! (I had seen other purple-and-red ladies in the airport and throughout the city. Very curious.)

I got envious of the people of Cairns because of all the fresh produce they get to enjoy.

The market was quiet at 9am, which allowed me to peruse leisurely. $2 for 6 avocados? What a steal.

What caught my interest were the purple carrots (will the purple ladies be interested?)...

... and these "chocolate fruit". Surely chocolate is made from cacao. A little Google search educated me on the Black Sapotes "Chocolate fruit": It is a fruit similar to persimmon. When ripe, the flesh is brown with a taste resembling chocolate pudding. I did not know that.

Rusty's was large and there was no lack of food options (and how international, too). I knew where I was getting my lunch in case I had no one to meet.

And there were bric-a-brac sellers, too!

I resisted the temptation to visit this op shop right next to the market.

Funny thing about that Sunday was: I ended up being at the market 3 times! First was this accidental find; second was to bring a friend and have coffee before lunch; third was to take a group of students after our lunch, where we all scored great bargains, because it was closing time.

That was my little "sightseeing" in Cairns.

P.S. More purple-and-red ladies spotted earlier. They are the Red Hat Society.