For 30 years, the fun and colorful Bazaar del Mundo (MOON-dough) had been delighting visitors to Old Town San Diego. It had featured several Mexican restaurants and a variety of specialty shops in a festive atmosphere, complete with colorful vendor carts and live entertainment. Well, all that's changed for the moment. The Bazaar del Mundo has lost its lease on Old Town San Diego Historic Park's land. (It wasn't "authentic" enough to stay at a HISTORIC park, the directors felt.)

Never fear, though! Bazaar del Mundo has found an even BETTER location, next to Seaport Village on the Embarcadero. The old San Diego police headquarters has been chosen as the new site, and it's a good fit. This site already features classic Spanish architecture, a large courtyard, and a beautiful bell tower. Now, it just needs to be readied for the stores and restaurants that will be coming! The new Bazaar del Mundo will open at the end of 2006.

The exact roster of stores is still unknown, but it's for sure that two popular restaurants from the old bazaar (Casa de Bandini and Casa de Pico) will be reopening in the new center. Until late 2006, Bazaar del Mundo will occupy a temporary home (just a block away from its old home) at Juan and Taylor Streets.

Since it's unsure exactly what stores will be opening at the new location, I'll describe some stores that were at the old bazaar. In addition to the restaurants, there were snack vendors. One was the Panaderia (pahn-ah-dare-EE-ya), which, translated, means a store that sells bread. In actuality, the term generally means SWEET breads, and this store sold a variety of Mexican-styled pastry treats. (There are actually dozens of panaderias all over San Diego and Los Angeles. Most Gringos just aren't aware of that fact, because they're always located in small shopping centers catering to a Hispanic clientele.) There was also a cute candy shop featuring Mexican and American sweets. There were clothing boutiques and shops selling imported Mexican arts, crafts, and jewelry. A toy store sold darling, unusual playthings. Cute vendor carts sold boldly colored paper flowers. A bandstand in the grassy central plaza featured (free!) Mexican singers and musicians. It was a lovely and vibrant atmosphere.

I WOULD say, "I'll miss it," but there's no need to say goodbye. The Bazaar del Mundo will be every bit as exciting in its new Embarcadero location!

Bazaar del Mundo (or World Bazaar) is a very colorful and lively collection of shops, restaurants, and bars in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park that surround a beautiful courtyard with beautiful landscape and flowers, a stage for live music, and a gazebo.

There are 15 (or so) shops in Bazaar del Mundo that have pottery, dinnerware, fabrics, books, confections, and arts and crafts....mostly from Latin American countries. From inside each shop, you can generally access the shop next door without going outside. However, going outside in the rain is not a problem, since the walkways facing the attractive courtyard are covered.

There are several Mexican restaurants and one Italian restaurant in Bazaar del Mundo. Casa de Pico (see journal entry) stands out from these.

My wife liked Bazaar del Mundo so much that we visited here twice. In these visits, we learned that it is best to visit during weekdays, or for lunch, because it is enormously popular (crowded) on weekends. On weekend evenings the place comes alive with live music, colorful fiesta costumes, night-time fiesta lights, and a very festive environment. There are free parking lots in the surrounding area, but on weekends, parking is scarce.

Right outside of the main entrance is a small park with grass, benches, a cannon, and HUGE trees.