Thursday is the tianguis on my street. I enjoy strolling through this market and engaging in conversation with the vendors. It’s an excellent way to practice speaking Spanish. And of course I buy fruit and vegetables. I’m always fascinated by all the used clothing and occasionally I discover a treasure, such as a Liz Claiborne in a petite size in excellent condition. But more often than not, I pass on the clothing. Sometimes I sit on a plastic stool around a table with several others, feasting on tacos pastor or tacos bistek.

From the tianguis I head toward Chavez to the panaderia and the chicken rosticeria. I pass by the elementary school where parents impatiently wait for their children to be dismissed. Numerous vendors fill the sidewalk displaying after-school snacks. Tables are filled with candy, gum, potato chips and sodas. Mexicans love their sugar.

I think back to when I was in elementary school in Winnipeg, Canada. There were no vendors selling junk food back then. The only one I remember is Pop Kelly who would park his truck outside my junior high school on Friday afternoons and sell popcorn. And that one little bag would last throughout the one mile walk home.

I returned home as it’s siesta time. Not really. I just want to get out of the sun and heat for a while. Although rain is in the forecast, at the moment there isn’t a single cloud in the sky.

Time to listen to an audiobook, in English. Thank you Libby and North Central Washington Libraries.

Enjoy your day!