To market, to market..

I'm a sucker for markets. I don't know why. Maybe its the unique products, the produce or the feeling of a good find or a great deal. I appreciate the fact that someone has taken the time and effort to pack up and lay out their goods. I really love any kind of market. Whether it be a farmer's market or a crafty type, they are all fun for me. I personally think its great to support local people and their products. Some of my absolute favorite finds ever have come from world renowned markets like beautiful hand painted bowls from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul or vibrant colored scarves from the San Lorenzo Market in Florence. The El Rastro market in Madrid definitely gets an honorable mention. There was so much to choose from that I walked away with hardly anything!
Here in Mexico you can find markets on almost every street and corner. They typically set up once a week in a particular area. The closest market to us sets up on Wednesdays so this past Wednesday I saddled Eva up and off we went.

View from the street. This market expanded about 3-4 blocks.

I found everything from Mary Kay make-up to someone chopping up fresh coconut to fresh flowers to clothing to produce, meat and fish. I found a really fun jewelry stall selling wooden beaded bracelets.

Fresh produce! I wanted to buy a few things so I tried talking to one of these guys behind the tables. I asked him for oranges (naranjas). He told me I could get 5 for 12 pesos (about $1). I said okay. The next thing I know he hands me a grocery bag filled to the brim with oranges!! That sucker was heav-y. I then realized he said 5 kilos (11 pounds) of oranges for 12 pesos. Well, that quickly ended the market experience..having Eva strapped to me plus carrying 5 kilos of oranges made for an interesting experience of getting home. Reminded me of Prague and trying to buy lots of groceries at once (the way I was used to growing up in the US) and then almost breaking my back trying to get them home when taking public transportation.

Layin out our loot. Baby is interested in the sound the bag makes.

This picture is definitely not the best for the color. The beads are much more bright and vibrant in person. But for about $7 I got oranges, a necklace, 4 wooden bracelets and a little yellow knitted flower clip for baby. Not too shabby, eh?

Apparently there is a huge market set up in one large building a little outside of the city. I cannot wait to go and scope it all out!