The clock face at Mercado Hildalgo was designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel - yes, that Eiffel. And yet, the vendors and foodstalls in Mercado Hidalgo could not be further in spirit from Paris. This is the contradiction that is Mexico, and to a degree, what Guanajuato exemplifies. A deep, cherished sense of grandure and tradition, coupled closely with the primacy of family, without any fussiness or pretence. Irreverant about death, and friendly in the most disarming way, this place typifies romance and mystery.

Standing near this spot,  wait for a taxi and you may  receive the friendly attention of  some locals people. Speaking with you in Spanish and English you may hear the details of how the local police made a show of cracking down on drunk driving or of which of the passing buses are more comfortable for a trip into the surrounding countryside.  It is a place where you can buy fresh produce, flowers and manufactured goods and preparred food.