Patriotic mercado (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

Amid the colorful patriotism of Hidalgo’s Marketplace, lies a bounty of groceries and other fun items. The festive atmosphere is available year-round, not just during September, making the chore of shopping an enjoyable experience.

Produce stall (photo by Daniel Alvarez courtesy of Flickr)

Stacked in colorful pyramids, the fruits at Guanajuato’s famous market become their own art form. The rich scents of sweet ripeness mixes beautifully with the bright colors of both exotic and tame fruit. Everything is for sale at the market, and the gorgeous silver lanterns above head are beautiful to look at and may end up in your market bag before the end of the day.

Stalks of fresh sugar cane (photo by digiyesica courtesy of Flickr)

Mexican marketplaces are sure to provide some interesting finds for those not accustomed to the wide range of products grown in Mexico. Above, fresh stalks of sugar cane are available, tantalizing buyers with culinary potential. Impatient shoppers can simply buy a piece to chew on while perusing the stalls though, why wait?

Carne stall at the mercado (loremipsum courtesy of Flickr)

Many people are used to their meat coming home on a Styrofoam tray with plastic wrap. There are a couple of dates on the packaging, but who knows when the cow was slaughtered or the chicken last clucked. The meat stalls at the marketplace are intriguing with some of the freshest cuts you can find. Chicken, Pork, Beef, they’re all there and the butchers have great ideas for cooking the meat in the tastiest ways.

The market offers a great time simply walking around enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Mexico. If you are looking for groceries, even simple picnic food, this is the place to visit. Why not have some fun with a menial task like grocery shopping. The beauty of Mexico is everywhere, even in the town marketplace.