SATURDAY FARMER'S MARKET

Just three years ago, a group got together and decided to open a Farmer's Market in the courtyard of the elementary school.  For years, the Senior Center had their own Farmer's Market on Saturdays further south toward Los Muertos Beach.  Not sure who came up with the idea that the South Side needed two such Saturday Markets, but it was an instant success.

There was a food court inside the school where you could buy all sorts of food, including a nice selection of meats.  In the center was a row of tables where people ate.  Most people bought food to take home.  One block of Pino Suarez by the school was closed down so that stalls could be set up along the sidewalks and in the middle of the street.  Mexicans have no problems closing streets for special events, no matter what the consequences were to traffic.  Since most cross streets are one way, the closure of one block and cause all sorts of havoc, but the Mexicans don't care.

The next year, the stalls began spreading down B. Bidillos.  Now in its third year they no longer use the school courtyard and all stalls have been moved along the wide sidewalks of B. Badillos.  No need to close off a street (maybe someone did complain).  The food court moved to Nacho Daddies (one of the many popular restaurants along "Puerto Vallarta's Restaurant Row"  The stalls now extend for at least four blocks along B. Badillo.

There is everything there.  Lots of hand crafts (glass blowing, basket weaving, jewelery, etc)  That is where my beaded Huichol Indian iguana came from.  You can get a massage or have your fortune read.  My friend Natasha has the most popular bread stand.  The line can be a block long to buy her wonderful homemade breads (She is the one in the yellow T shirt).  Natasha is also the one who began to decorate one wall of the school with a mosaic of bits of tile, glass, mirror, with a few tiles from sponsors.  Some idiot school teacher complained and said that the permit had been "purchased!"  Well, YES!  that is the way things get done here.  It is quite attractive (much better than graffiti) but the school teacher that it was "too gay, and not a good influence on the children"  I have no idea what she was looking at.  The wall stays!

You can buy organic vegetables or all kinds of homemade food, from honey to dips, to cheeses.  There are several stands that sell herbs as well.  The best and freshest flowers can be purchased there, as well as some small plants.  There is always a band playing at one end adding to the festive holiday spirit of it.    It has become a wonderful asset to our little community.  Unfortunately for those of us who live here, it only runs from November through April.

If you  ever visit Puerto Vallarta, the Saturday Farmer's Market is a "must see".