People on the Street 4

Povery has many faces in Mexico. Every pueblo and city has its share of people struggling to survive. This is particularly apparent in the streets of Mexico City and among the indigenous peoples of this country. Seeing men, women and children asking for assistance from passerbys on the sidewalk is a common enough scene throughout the city, but particularly in the downtown Historical District. Often, children, as in this photo, are with a parent playing a tune on an accordian or other instrument in hopes that people will give them just a few pesos from their pocket. It's not uncommon to see the same people on the same corner day after day from early morning until late at night. Poverty is one of those universals that doesn't recognize interntionsl boundaries.

CHECK THIS OUT:

With nearly 25 million people living in the greater Mexico City area, traffic is a major problem. Perhaps the efforts of a superhero are what is needed to help solve this problem of conjetion in the streets for those living there.

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2013/06/2013613212053768708.html

 

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The Goat Guy

Many treats, visual and gustatory, await the inquisitive traveler when visiting the mercado. It was most interesting to watch this butcher prepare these goats for sale. One of my favorite indulgences in the markets, when I can find it, is a nice hot bowl of birria or a couple of birria tacos. Depending on what mercado one visits around Mexico, it's not uncommon to find vendor after vendor specializing in barbacoa. Goat happens to be a favorite of mine! It's different than beef or pork, probably more similar to lamb, but not so pungent as the more mature mutton. Birria is basically stewed meat with assorted spices and chilis that is slow cooked. Served either in a bowl or in tacos, it is a specialty well worth looking for when traveling in Mexico.

 

CHECK THIS OUT:

A new project in Mexico City turned unused space into productive commercial and socal areas.

http://trap.it/8upmBj

 

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People on the Street 3

Squatting just outside the Metropolitan Cathedral, this gentleman is clearly deep in thought or study. For many in Mexico, visiting the eglisia or cathedral, in this case, is a daily practice. The importance of faith to many cannot be understated. Prayer and devotion are central values practiced by the Catholic faithful in Mexico. As in this case, it does appear that older individuals are those who you most often see practicing their faith with daily visits to their local places of worship.

 

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People on the Street 1

As I travel, I'm lucky enough from time to time to catch an image that captures why I love Mexico so much. In this series, I hope to show you the flavor of this country by presenting some of the people one encounters moving about the city. In this photo, clearly the señora chose her outfit quite appropriately so as to be color coordinated as she passed this particular location. It was just my good fortune to also be in this spot at the same time. Whether you're a first time visitor to Mexico or a snarly expat living there, the brilliant colors that one is surrounded by are part of the charm of the total Mexican experience.

 

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A Visit To The Market

Whether it's the city or a small town, one of the truly unique experiences in Mexico is a visit to the local market. In Mexico City, there are any number of markets to choose from, large to small, general to specialized. Stomping about the Alameda neighborhood this morning, I stumbled upon a relatively small market near the larger Mercado San Juan.

A Real Seafood Lover's Delight

The selection of fish and seafood was truly amazing. Why wouldn't one come here daily to buy fresh fish, fruit and vegetables?

How About A Lobster Tonight, Gringo?

Of course, no market would be complete without a little butchering going on. Cabrito (young goat) is one of my favorite taco ingredients when I can find it. Or, you can take a whole one home for a backyard barbeque.

Oh mama, get the BBQ going. We're having something special tonight!

Of course, for the less adventurous, there is much more offered such as a tremendous selection of fresh fruits and veggies.

One sees row after row of fresh fruit just like this in every market.

Or, as an appetizer, we could begin with a selection of sausages (some of these happen to be from Spain).

Chorizo and much, much more!

All in all, one can spend hours walking around any of the local markets. In this one, I was also treated to some cheese and wine samples. Mexico is really a very civilized place!

 

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