scoring big at the tiangues

Tucked in among the stalls for vegetables, fruits, weird herbs and cure-alls, plastic buckets, the chicken man and the fish man and the cheese lady are the clothing stalls. Many of the goods are new ~ jeans, T-shirts, undies, shoes, baby clothes. But the rest are selling used clothes, the seminuevos. This is where the treasures are. All of us have become discriminating grazers over the piles of mostly bad stuff; too much polyester for my taste. When Mr. C was still a Patient I found some great shorts for him in a tiny size and he wore them the entire season. Probably $2. A denim shirt, too. Another $2. Last week Alex found me this snazzy item, off to the side hanging on a rope holding up the canvas covering.

It's made of that gauzy cotton batiste that is so cool and comfortable. Embroidery, sequins, satin ribbon trim. 20 pesos. Cries out for a party. I wore it to Neighbor Nelson's last Monday night. Very pretty.

Today, all of us who go to the tiangues together scored big time except Ms. Neighbor Nelson who just wasn't in a shopping mood. Imagine! Marie came away with a cotton tiered skirt and a camisole top, Sybil with a skirt, capri pants and a blouse, and I got this bright silk shirt. All the buttons, too. 20 pesos - $1.35 at today's exchange rate. I think for the three of us we didn't spend more than $10.

I'm taking it with me to San Miguel. Weather there looks great; warm days, cool nights, no bugs. We'll be on our way early tomorrow morning; it's a full day's drive.