Weekend wrap up - Saturday, February 3

Time to stop and smell the desert and sea!

There is a monthly "tianguis" or flea market/swap meet the first Saturday of each month at Bahia Storage, with the 150 pesos fee to vendors going towards education needs in the community.  We had not found enough items to sell to warrant setting up a table, but we headed over to the Bahia neighbourhood to see what treasurers were on offer.  Items are often of a nautical nature, including outboard engines, various fittings, left-overs and spares no longer needed.  A crowd always converges first thing and most folks know that if you really want to find bargains, it is best to set up early as a vendor and buy your items before the general public are allowed in.  It is a social event as well as fellow cruisers stroll by.  No boat parts for us, but we scored a good length of light coloured Sunbrella fabric and some black screening - for the Admiral's fabric bin. 

The morning was sunny and bright after two gloomy grey days, so we parked at the marina and treated ourselves to breakfast at Barracuda Bob's, sitting out in the warm sun.  Eggs Bennie and Quiche, OJ and coffee hit the spot.  Paid our marina bill for February; walked to Star Marine, where we were pleasantly surprised to find the raw water impeller model we needed. The price was reasonable and 'a bird in the hand' was the deciding factor.  Our spares are 'somewhere' onboard.

We rounded out the late morning with a visit to INTREPID, then to the Altered Tails Bookstore and the vendors set up on the marina walkway.  Altered Tales is a used bookstore run by the SBPA (Sociedad Benefactra y Proteccion Animales) which accepts books and donations to support spay and neuter clinics in San Carlos.   Outside their door were boxes of fresh produce which caught our eye.  The vendor had a 'special' on offer - mix and match your choice of veggies and fruit for either 60 pesos ($4.25) or 90 pesos ($5.65).  Too good to pass up!  Our purchases will make for  tasty, healthy meals this coming week.

Valencia oranges and ruby red grapefruit - 60 pesos

Beans, squash, cherry tomatoes, cherry bombs, brussell sprouts - 60 pesos

On to the Rescate (volunteer emergency services) thrift store to drop off a donation and to check out the weekly market held in the compound.  Vendors there offer hand woven blankets, baskets, carvings, jewelry, veggies, food; we just missed a performance by some young dancers.  A lively place.

Weekly market at Rescate compound