To Market to Market...

The following are a series of pictures I took at our San Jose Organic Market last Saturday. The market takes place every Saturday just outside of town during the months of December thru May. Harry and I had not been to the market for several weeks and we could not believe how large and even more interesting it had become. The Gringos were out in full force on Saturday along with Mexican locals.

Miss Nora, husband Francisco and daughter Renata

It never fails but each time we go to the market we run into my teacher team-mate and dear friend from last year, Nora. Nora is still teaching at Mission. She and her husband were both attorneys who moved to Cabo from Mexico City. We try to stay connected to them by having dinner together every few weeks. I have missed working with her so much. She kept me sane at Mission in my darkest hours. Well let me re-phrase that: as sane as I can possibly be. Nora always apologizes for her English and I always remind her that her English is great and that she should take note that I do not attempt to speak in Spanish to her. We have had many a fascinating and brutally honest conversation about Mexican and American culture with Francisco and Nora over the past year. They have taught us so much!

Doreen at the Market

This is my friend Dorreen who makes quilts to sell at the market from a wide variety of fabrics she finds at a wide variety of places. Doreen is amazing in many ways, one of which being the fact that she almost lost her eyesight a few years ago because of undiagnosed glaucoma. Even though her eyes are not very good she continues to sew beautiful quilts.

Harry at the Market

Harry's favorite thing at the market are the fresh vegetable stalls. The produce is fresh, organic and amazing. You see things you would never see at Byerly's. There are also chickens, eggs and a wide assortment of other tasty delights.

Sopes at the Market

I do not personally know this woman but she makes a most extrordinary dish at the market every week called sopes. She heats up a corn tortilla type thing on a grill and piles on refried beans, cheese, lettuce and crema (mexican sour cream). It is heaven on earth! There are always people waiting for her to make one up fresh off the grill. I have tried to make them at home myself and they never taste like hers.

Samantha at the Market

Samantha has a small business making jams and jellies etc. which are sold at the market and in other shops around town. I asked Samantha a few months back, when we attended a Mexican Train dinner party at her house, just where she made all her wonderful concoctions, thinking she had a small factory somewhere in town. She looked shocked and told me everything she sold she made in her kitchen right where we were standing!

Liz at the Saturday Market

This is Liz, who I depend upon for wisdom and sage advice here in Cabo when I need it. (and I need it often) Liz sells organic herbs, flowers and tomato plants at the market. She does all her planting and growing in her small condo. Her balcony, with it's view of the mountains, the estuary, and the ocean looks like a miniature greenhouse.