As a gesture of appreciation for Marta Elenas outstanding hospitality, I decided to get her some flowers since I know that she absolutely loves gardening. Around the Palacio de Cortés I started asking around where I would get flowers and everyone pointed me in the direction of the local Mercado. People in the street were very helpful, whenever I had a question theyd stop patiently and try to help me direct me.
The market was about 7 or 8 blocks away down a fairly steep hill and as usual a very colourful place. I got a wonderful big bouquet of flowers with orange and white lilies for a very reasonable price of 55 pesos. I was also looking for a card to give to Marta Elena and walked through the very basic stalls selling food, clothing, shoes, toys and many other basic items, but no luck, no cards were to be found anywhere. Its certainly a very colourful place with a very local flavour, and there was not a tourist to be seen. The sights, sounds and smells of Mexico come at you in full force and you get a real taste for where the locals do their shopping.
This is also the main local bus terminal where all the municipal buses leave from. What a commotion! Buses leaving every few minutes and lining up in the usual chaotic way to exit the market. I was amazed that the buses werent hitting one another - quite an experience.
At 5:30 pm I had my second physiotherapy appointment - now I am really getting to know the Mexican health care system. Due to all the walking I have been suffering from an inflammation of the tendon and ligament surrounding my left ankle, and Roxana Villamichel, my local contact at the citys tourist department, had recommended that I visit a local physiotherapist named Ivo whose office is literally 10 minutes away from Marta Elenas bed and breakfast.
The office is housed in a simple 3-story residential building, as usually protected by an exterior wall. Ivo is a young therapist in his 30s, always smiling and concerned about his patients. He administered an electrode as well as an ultrasound treatment to me (to reduce the pain) and gave me a referral to a local orthopedist named Dr. Chinchilla who will fix me up with some orthotic inserts for my shoes. My experience with Mexican medical specialists has been thoroughly positive. Ivo is always friendly, professional and very knowledgeable and my pain has come down significantly already.
After my return from my physio appointment I got ready to move from one B