From the central square, facing the sixteenth century Church of San Bernardino, Calle 16 de Septiembre leads southward to a market with plants, flowers and pottery. The landing stages are 400 metres from the market.

The boats, decorated with paper flowers, go down the main canal and its offshoots, pass floating market gardens anchored to the silt by the poplar trees reflected in the still waters. The boats’ passengers soon attract other vessels: orchestra boats loaded with mariachis or marimba players, a photography boat, a canoe with a rose seller, a floating kitchen with pans bubbling on hotplates.

This favourite haunt of Mexican families at festival times also represents a return to their roots, a living image of the old lakeside culture.