Bootleg shopping in mexico...

[Tothiro]

I have a buddy going to cancun for a week (not that I'm bitter) and he -and I- want to know if there are any good shopping spots in the area for bootleggy mego-like action. (I'm thinking in the PACO style or equivalent here)

Anyone have any intel?

[SeattleEd]

I don't think Cancun would have much. Too touristy. It's usually the mercados within the bigger cities on weekends that have stuff like that. Also small neighborhood. Just grab a directory and search for "juegetes" or juegeteria". Usually swap meets are the best bet too.

[MEGOMAN]

I hear that Mexico City has a great swap meat for old toys.

[samurainoir]

Definitely not in the resort part of Cancun.

You've either got high end stores or tourist shops. You'd have to go off the beaten path, and it's not easy getting out of the resort area or set tourist destinations since everything is designed to keep you spending within those confines.

I even strapped on my rollerblades to try and go exploring, but the distances and the heat are pretty overwhelming (and I've skated from Toronto to Niagara Falls!)

[BOTZWANA]

I live in Saltillo. Bootlegs here stink. The best thing here is the poptops monsters from the sixties. http://www.monstercafesaltillo.com


I WISH they would have some good bootlegs here.

[megojim]

there are a couple spots down in playa but nothing in cacun

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I even strapped on my rollerblades to try and go exploring, but the distances and the heat are pretty overwhelming (and I've skated from Toronto to Niagara Falls!)

Wow, impressive Ed!

[Tothiro]

Wow, impressive Ed!

I know right? Geeez!

As far as bootleggednessity - Looks like he (and I, really, who am I kidding??) are out of luck. At least he and his girlfriend will enjoy a tan while they look.

Thanks everyone for the info!

[Hulk]

Seems the good toy stores are never by the tourist areas, but perhaps that is for the best.

[samurainoir]

As far as bootleggednessity - Looks like he (and I, really, who am I kidding??) are out of luck. At least he and his girlfriend will enjoy a tan while they look.

It just occurred to me that Merida in the Yucatan isn't that far from Cancun. Are they booked into a resort for the week or do they have flexibility?

If so, then I would recommend your friend heads to there for a couple of days. There are even some really awesome ruins enroute, and beaches that put Cancun's post hurricane beaches to shame.

Merida is a good sized city with lots of markets and stalls. There is enough balance between the tourist stuff and interacting with the "real" folks in mexico, particularly if they are like me and get bored of the resorts that don't cater to diving.

However, I've noticed these days the Mexican bootlegs that they sell to kids in the street stalls are rubber/plastic figures that are more akin to the 5"-6" action figures that kids today play with than the old mego-style.

Although there are some wonderfully inventive variations and and pretty good original sculpts, including Super-Deformed figures, Homer Simpson as Spiderman/Superman/Aliens, large 12" blow mold style Superheroes based on the smaller sculpts.

I came back with some wonderfully whimsical stuff. I just wish I had room for the Pinata's in my suitcase!

[samurainoir]

The one attraction at Cancun that I heavily recommend as "can't miss" is the CoCo Bongo club. It's insane.
Coco Bongo Official Web Page

Non stop entertainment and dancing. Acrobats, dancers, all pop culture/movie themed acts.

Imagine if you dressed up Cirque de Soleil performers as Spiderman, Batman, characters from the Matrix etc and allowed them to swing around over your heads on the dance-floor, just a foot or two above your heads before landing on the bar and slugging it out right in front of you. The entire bar area seems to be their performance space.

We happened to be walking past this place one night, and thanks to my lovely spouse's red slinky dress, they enticed us in by giving her free cover and allowing us to by-pass the huge line-up.

The cover was about fifty bucks for me, but given the amount of entertainment and the fact that it was open bar once you got in made it well worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUah0...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_P4m...eature=related

The was one of my favourite nights in my four city, three week, Mexican holiday/racing trip.

[Hector]

You are not going to find anything in Cancun...or other resorts for that matter.

The places where you do find not only bootlegs...but also Americanized type toys...are in more cosmopolitan areas such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.