Market memories

.
While downtown this weekend, Mary and I found ourselves in an interesting situation. We had stopped by the indoor Benito Juarez market to look for a specific souvenir (bookmarks with village scenes painted on them - Mary bought some last time she was here). Time after time, vendors would inform us that they just didn't make them like that, no one did - but Mary didn't lose hope and we kept searching.

.

Finally we found someone who seemed to know what we were talking about. However, after a brief glance through her hundreds of bookmarks, the woman realized she didn't have any either. But, she said, she thought her brother might have some. After glancing around and not seeing him nearby, she told us she would go find him, if we could just watch her stuff for a while.

.

And so, Mary and I were suddenly in charge of souvenirs that lined either side of the crowded aisle. Not knowing quite what to do, we took up posts on both sides - trying to look natural, like tourists, and hoping no one noticed that we were the only ones there. After five minutes in this unusual situation, the woman returned. In the end, we had the bookmarks we were hoping for, and the memory of keeping shop for a very trusting vendor in Oaxaca.

.