Mexican Folk
Acapulco – Shopping for Folk Art, Crafts and Souvenirs – General Tips
As a hub for cruise ships and as Mexico’s “grande dame” of tourism, Acapulco is a great center for buying quality folk art from all over Mexico. In addition, you will surely find it really easy to find lots of inexpensive little gifts and souvenirs. This article gives general information and tips on shopping for folk art, crafts and souvenirs in Acapulco. A related article deals with where in town you find these things. A third addresses the separate subject of Mexican silver.
Planning Your Shopping Trips. Travel experts usually recommend that you make a list of the people you need to buy for, create a budget, and do your shopping in two steps. Make one outing just to browse, and another to do your buying. It is best to accomplish all of this early in your vacation time, so you can relax and not worry about it later on. Last minute shopping on the way out of town almost always results in less inspired purchases, more stress, and more expense than doing it the careful way. Everyone knows that the airport departure lounge is not the best place to buy anything.
Your first outing – to browse – is just so you’ll know all the options and your range of choice before you settle down to bargain. You can also get good ideas about how variable the asking prices are, and hence if haggling will result in a good deal. You can also gauge if you should be carrying currency or if a credit card will work fine for you. After the first outing, revise your shopping list with the more specific ideas (and information on cost) that you gathered during reconnaissance.
Haggling Over Prices. In general, bargaining with your seller can produce a lower price for you, especially if you are in an open air market or on the beach. Products in formal retail establishments (with air conditioning and display cases) are usually not priced with the expectation of haggling. You may be able to receive a discount for cash or for quantity, but typically the indicated price is the price. If you are lucky to be speaking to the owner or manager, you might request a more generous discount if you can think of a reason why you deserve it. In almost all other contexts you should make counter-offers. Imagine that the opening price is twice what the vendor is hoping for. If you can’t get the price down to where you want it to be, leave. Acapulco has many other vendors who will compete for your preference. If you get to a price that works for you, say “OK.” Unless you particularly enjoy haggling over prices, your vacation time is more valuable than the few pesos more you might save by investing additional time and effort.
Authentic Folk Art. Several stores and art galleries sell folk art, some of it signed by recognized artists. This would include the beaded figures of the Huichol and the black pottery from Oaxaca. A number of places offer reasonable quality for not much money. Indigenous vendors on the beaches and sidewalks of Acapulco sell their own handiwork, which includes textiles, jewelry made from seeds, shells and semi-precious minerals, masks, carved wooden decorative items, hammocks, bowls, baskets, hats, purses and figurines. Usually there is so much inventory in one place that it is hard to appreciate a single item. Pick it up and hold it away from everything else to see whether it appeals to you when looked at in isolation. Examine the workmanship. Necklaces and bracelets of shells or stone that are held together by a fiber cord (instead of a chain) should be sturdy, yet pliable.
Mexican Silver entails several additional considerations. See the related article that covers this subject.
Souvenirs. The open air markets should be your starting point for souvenirs. Just make sure that what interests you is the local article, and not something imported from Asia. This is particularly true with anything made of plastic. You can buy a t-shirt or a towel that says just about anything from sincere to spicy. Shot glasses, piñatas, sombreros, ceramics – all will be spread out for you. You can bargain on price, and you can work out package deals and discounts if you buy more than one item. Credit card sales – when possible – usually result in higher prices, since the vendor pays a processing fee. Also, the amount of the sale is subject to a 17% value added tax, which the state collects from your vendor. (The cash sales are subject to the same tax, but the audit trail is much fainter.)
Two Warnings. If you are new to the Mexico tourist souvenir scene, know that a couple of tourist items are just traps and should be avoided:
- “Tortoise Creams.” This is a double scam. If the product is genuine, that is, made from sea tortoise eggs, know that the species is endangered. The product is contraband, and if it is discovered in customs, it will be confiscated. In any event, science repudiates the claims made for this product. Besides, since it’s a crime to harvest the eggs, most of the unscrupulous vendors can’t find the genuine article anymore, so they just repackage cheap, greasy lotion and pass it off.
- Souvenir Tequila. It’s OK to buy a decorated tequila bottle – especially the small ones for sale in a lot of places. But do not imagine that the contents are the greatest tequila made. It may not be tequila at all! It’s best not to drink it. If you buy a souvenir tequila bottle, empty it before getting on an airplane, to avoid issues with the regulations.
About the Author
Bernal Castillo writes for RealAcapulco.com, the most complete and reliable source of information about Acapulco, in English and in Spanish. To reach him, go to Acapulco and navigate to the contact page.
Best way to find a qualified pro musician willing to teach Mexican folk/romantica guitar music in L.A.?
I'm talking about serious stuff--not just "La cucaracha" and "Sabor a mi" but styles like huapango and son huasteco and the real nitty gritty.
Not instead of but in addition to this I'd also like to find a small group to play with ... even if it's just casual, in somebody's backyard and it means that I have to bring the beer every Sunday as my admission ticket.
By way of reference, I've been listening to a band called Los Camperos de Valles a lot lately and that sort of thing blows me away. My ear isn't terrible but I can't deconstruct it on my own. I definitely need help and, as I've said above, I would really enjoy playing with a bunch of folks that enjoy the same music.
Muchas gracias
Visit the music department of your local university and ask.
Mexican Folk Song
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Talavera Light Switch Plate Cover - Duplex Plate $9.50 Brighten up any room by replacing your existing switch plate cover with one of these Hand Painted in the traditional Talavera style in Mexico. The plate cover is designed for a duplex plug (3-prong). Due to varying needs of different walls, we do NOT include screws or hardware. The picture shows four different switchplate designs. This is a representation of what they will look like. The one you o... |
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Circle of Friends Candle Holder, 7 pre-Columbian Friends $16.00 This Clay figure of "Circle of Friends" has 7 Mayan figures arm in arrm in a circle around a base for a candle. This very rustic and primitive Mexican pottery suitable for indoors and outdoors. The shade of the clay can vary from piece to piece, with muted shades of tan, brown, green, blue, and all combinations thereof.. These Circle of Friends are Hand Made and formed from Clay in a very primitiv... |
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HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR PONIES Mexican Folk Art PONY $24.00 ITEM #20303 New in its original box Measures 6" high Limited edition of 10,000... |
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The Three Caballeros $7.75 Among his birthday presents, Donald Duck finds a projector, a screen and a roll of film. He puts them on and finds it is a film about his Southern relations - a subject Donald would confess he knows very little about. He watches several stories about a cold penguin, a flying donkey and a cigar chewing parrot who introduces him to the beauties (literally) of Brazilian and Mexican culture. Donald D... |
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Mexico Folklore: Corazon Y Ritmo Instruction in the classic Mexican folk dancing of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico featuring some of the more distinct egional dances. Narrated in Spanish.... |
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Ceramica y Cultura: The Story Of Spanish And Mexican Mayolica [VHS] $85.00 ... |
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Talavera Light Switch Plate Cover - Cable Cover, Assorted Colors $8.00 Brighten up any room by replacing your existing switch plate cover with one of these hand painted in the traditional Talavera style in Mexico. The plate cover is designed for a round Cable, such as your Cable TV line. The picture shows 2 different switchplate designs. This is a representation of what they will look like. The one(s) you order will be similar but not identical since each one id hand... |
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PINATA The Princess and The Frog Piñata Hand Crafted 26x26x12[Holds 2-3 Lb. Of Candy][for Any Ocasion] $27.99 This Pinata measures 26" inches by 26" inches measuring from tip to tip Length, and tip to tip Height, and 12"inches Width. Hand Crafted Beautifully Detailed Traditional Cone Star shaped pinata with opening on top for stuffing candy. Sturdy enough to hold 2-4 pounds of candy. This originally styled pinata will complement any event!... |
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Linda Ronstadt - Canciones de Mi Padre: A Romantic Evening in Old Mexico $9.18 Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 06/08/2004... |
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Chulas Fronteras/Del Mero Corazon $19.41 ... |
