Went to town to check out the mercados. I had a little trouble finding the first one, and ended up at the Zócalo. I wanted to check out this restaurant, so I figured now was a good time. It's the upstairs one: the sign is at the street level (several different restaurants at the street level).





















 
I ordered beef in yellow mole sauce, but it looks more like red to me. It tasted pretty good, but the best part was the herb butter served with the rolls (rolls are served cold, unless you're in a top restaurant). Service was very good. $8.85 Bohemia (beer) was high at $2.40.  



 
 












 
There was some kind of contest. Nothing big; must be a size limit. They were set up on all four sides of the square.  
 





 








 
The three mercados in the heart of town are on three consecutive blocks: the first covers the whole block, the second covers half a block, the third covers about a third of a block.  


 

 
The first one is Mercado Benito Juarez. Like the bigger ones I've visited, this one has everything: from food to clothes to tools; and it's jam packed, like the first one I saw (Abastos).  



 

 





 
The second 'market' is almost all eateries, including live entertainment. Pick your poison meat aisle; cook it and it on the spot.  
 
 

 






 



 

 
Came out on the opposite side, and saw this chocolate and mole store. Made to order, if you're looking for something special. Mole is made into a thick paste like soft chocolate; add water when you're ready to use it.  

 











  



 
Finally, made it to the crafts store.  

 




 








 
Some of it may be genuine local stuff, but I'll bet a lot of it isn't.  












 



 

 



Got on this tour bus ($4). Mostly it takes you to all the old buildings, with a running commentary, no getting off.  


 
Again I had trouble getting back: tried three different bus stops, on people's say so; never the right bus. After about an hour, I got in a cab. The driver didn't know where to go. Showed him on my phone. He made a couple of wrong turns, then he charged me $5 instead of $3; I think he charged me for the time it took him, even though it was his own fault.  

So I got here about 7pm. I got caught up on email and Facebook. I read for a little while. Then I went to sleep.