Going to the Juárez market on Sundays is a typical Mexican experience. The locals call it the Mercado Juárez because it is in the Juárez neighbourhood of Mazatlán, but it is officially called the Miguel Hidalgo Municipal Market (after the Catholic priest who had a defining role in starting the Mexican independence movement in 1810).
You can find anything you need on this market: clothes, pots and pans, dishes, luggage, toys, tools, toilet paper, plants and flowers, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, shrimps…
A pick-up truck filled with fresh and high-quality fruits is right beside a stand with impressive looking cakes. The shrimp ladies sell fresh shrimp by the kilo out of big tubs. One fishermen laid out his catch on cardboard. There are stands where they sell chunks of red meat, or whole chickens and chicken parts – the meat lying directly on the table cloth with no cooling mechanism whatsoever…
There are heaps of clothes on countless tables in the flea market. A friend needed an adapter for a three-pronged plug to go into a two-pronged socket – something that, in my opinion, should not exist for safety reasons – and we found one there for only 10 pesos. You need something – you will likely find it on the Juárez Market.
I was excited to find the bulk store close to the market. I bought some pistachios, but they also have spices there, dried chiles, beans, nuts, quinoa, seeds, granola, dried fruits, baking soda – you can get any small quantity of anything you need.
The market is busy with crowds of people. Most people here are locals which makes for an authentic atmosphere and is reflected in the prices. Even with all the crowds, it is remarkable how relaxed the experience is. No-one shoves you and yells at you for being in their way. There is no stress here. Music plays at different corners, sometimes overlapping, which also adds to the Mexican experience.
In comparison, the Mercado Pina Suarez in Centro is more tourist-oriented, although still frequented by locals. The vendors there are much more pushy in their sales efforts. It’s not as relaxed there. At the Juárez market, there is none of that. Great experience!
It was an experience visiting there!
Say, wasn’t there a shirt or something you bought for me there that you were supposed to give me? Lol. Hmmmmm.
Hola Chica! looks fantastic! Reminds me of Barbados! Would have had a hard time with unrefrigerated meat though.
C