In Chuhuapa, there is no real grocery store, as per the in the US. Instead, there are several small convenience type mercados, which feature snacks, drinks, beer, and some tinned food items, soap, maybe a few vegtables. As for fresh veggies, there is a woman who always has a few crates of produce, all produced locally. The varieties changes day to day and you can count on tomatoes, jalapenos, and maybe limes and lemons. Sometimes you can get exotic fruits, avocadoes, lettuce, you just never know. It is really cheap food. Most cost just pennies.
Many families have a specialty format store or service in the front room of their houses. Some run tacorias, some sell sandwiches, some sew and do repairs to clothes, etc. There is one panadaria (bread store). The bread is hot at 2 p.m., and the almond cookies and other sweetbreads are wonderful. There are two internet cafes that do not sell coffee. The one I've been to requires you use the existing computers that they have connected on a network...a real pain. They rely on satellites, and usually poor up link and down link speeds..especially on weekends. Wi-fi here is non-existent, presumably because most here cannon afford their own computers.
The aspect of procuring supplies that I like the most is that of the door to door sales, but really it isn't door to door. You have to come outside immediately if you want whatever it is they are selling.
Today I bought a giant slice of cake that contained several layers of fruit, whipped cream and other ingredients. Delicious. $.80. There is the yogurt lady, and the several cars selling bread, fresh fish in tanks, and even motorcycles with boxes on the back selling tortillas.
What if you want a US style food mart? There is one store, called Chedraui, located on the edge of Jalapa, in a Mini-Mall complete with US style parking decks and banks, and the like. It is about 20 miles away and not convenient in terms of access, parking, or stress!
Here the Fish Truck Arrives!
And Don buys bread out of a trunk!
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Wow. Good post about vendors. The mobile panadería was great. Reminds me of my trips to Mexico. Even Don's mannerisms are like Dave's. That vendor spoke really good English. I was just wondering if you ever get any guys gouging you on prices before they realize you can speak spanish and know the price scale? Do you ever get anyone trying to up their take by claiming..."no cambio" ? As far as food vendors go, I noticed that even in Mexico City it seemed pretty rustic. There were always guys selling pancakes(?) cooked atop what looked like tin roofing, with a can or Sterno underneath. See ya.
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