A mile or so inland from the beachfront tourist accommodations at Puerto Aventuras (PA) lies the village where the local folks live. It is called the poblado, which is Spanish for village. Many of it's residents work in the tourist part of PA and many more work in support services/industries for the tourists. The image above is a fresh fruit and juice stand beside the road as you enter the poblado.
Just down the street from the fruit stand is this open air tortilla factory where we buy our fresh made tortillas. A paper-wrapped packet sold by half kilo weight is 7.50 pesos (about 55 cents US) and contains a dozen or so fresh corn tortillas.
A little farther into the poblado, this fresh produce market is where the locals come to shop although there were a few adventurous gringos like us there also. No English is routinely spoken here although, I did meet a man working there who had lived in San Francisco for a while and spoke some.
The dirt courtyard of the mall is surrounded on three sides by corrugated tin roofed stalls selling all sorts of things that people need - food, clothing, miscellaneous household goods.
No fancy cash registers - a calculator and a metal cash box is all this shop keeper needs.
This fresh produce market is open every day as distinguished from the two-day-a-week produce market that comes to the tourist side of town.
A typical street scene in the village.
It seems few Mexican villages are complete without random dogs sleeping in the hot sun on the sidewalk. Dogs roam at random but most are timid and do not approach - and they almost never bark either - seems that only the chained and/or penned dogs bark a lot. Why bark and act aggressive when you can take a nice warm nap?
In a local Super Willy's (a small supermarket chain), dried beans are always a popular and well-stocked item. Shown here, a bag of black beans for 9.84 pesos - approximately 73 cents US.
Bicycles are the most common form of transport (or walking) for most locals. And no, I didn't try the bar pictured in the background, although I have no doubt I would be welcomed warmly by the friendly Mexican people. On the other hand, a bar with no windows is generally not for the faint of heart - nor for someone unwilling to knock back a few shots of tequila. ¡Salud!
Joe Love your blog. I have driven around the Poblado and can not seem to find this market. Can you tell me where it is.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoy the blog. As you are heading into the poblado away from the highway, the road bends to the right (the bomberos and first aid station are at that corner on the left), take the first right after the bend (maybe it's the second right), and the market area is a half block on the right. It is open air, U-shaped with corrugated tin roofs over the stalls. I think the Farmacia with the green second floor was just across from the market area.
DeleteWe have visited and enjoyed the Poblado the last two years we vacationed at Puerto Aventuras. Last year we went to Sunday Mass at the outdoor church, and then enjoyed a fish dinner in a simple but tasty local restaurant.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
DeleteI just looked at the rest of your blog-absolutely fantastic! We too are staying again at VDM C 103, one of the best condos in the development. Wil be with my wife, son and daughter-one-law and 2 grandsons! When I retire (freedom 70 plan at the moment) I could see being here for a month or two also. Thanks for the wonderful pictures and comments - mid-February can't come soon enough!
ReplyDeleteI am jealous just imagining it - thanks for your comment, Tom.
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