San Ángel on a Saturday

San Ángel is an old colonial style village in the centre of the enormous and busy metropolis that is Mexico City. San Ángel is full of old Colonial mansions, cobblestone streets, massive wooden doors and a riot of geraniums and bougainvillea, and on  a Saturday becomes a yuppie and tourist enclave as the big craft market centres around Plaza San Jacinto.
The  local yuppies all come down for brunch in one of the many restaurants surrounding the plazas and eat and drink as the tourists come to shop and soak up the atmosphere.

Around 10.30ish the artists begin to set up their easels and display their paintings around a number of small plazas, the main being San Jacinto and the craft and jewellery are found mainly in the neighbouring

 Plaza Tenanitla. I arrived early, so had brunch before the throngs and walked through the narrow aisles of the craft market before they were thick with people. This left plenty of time to walk through some of the beautiful old buildings checking out other wonderful arts and crafts.

In the centre of Plaza Jacinto, musicians entertain the crowds, from a jazz group to a Philharmonic orchestra, a lovely way to spend a few hours. I shall be returning to San Ángel to visit the home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivers and probably another Saturday just soaking up the atmosphere of this beautiful area.

It's great to have the time to choose activities and not feel pressured to cram as much into a short time.