El Quelite again.

On Sunday our friends Roberto and his wife Gloria picked us up and took us to El Quelite. Sunday was right in the middle of Carnaval. We left the hotel at 8 a.m. got there about 8:45. The main street was lined with cars and huge tour busses! And Vendors. Thank goodness Dora knew we were coming and had saved us a table. Just a few of the vendors. 

We parked a ways up the block and walked back towards the restaurant. I liked this sign and the front of the building. 

Wouldn't you love to live here. So welcoming looking. 

All the homes are built with a common wall. This sign was on the house next door. Stating that the building was one of the first buildings in the town. It was a stop for the mule trains from the mines. It was also a stop for the stagecoaches that ran along the Camino Real. Passed through every three days. Also in 1881 the telegraph office was installed. And a famous bandit died here. Interesting history for this little town.  
The house with the plaque. 

The common walls, see the plaque on the far left. The place next door is nicely painted. Notice the underside of the roof. 

Neat paint job. 

And the final house on the block. It is also a little store. 

Part of the El Quelite sign and more of the vendors. The building on the corner is an OXXO Like a 7-11.

Going into the restaurant we went by the ladies making tortillas. All tortillas served in the restaurant are hand made right then. 

The whole front of the restaurant that was empty the other day was full of tables and people eating at them. Our table was in a little space surrounded by plants. Perfect. 

Our friend Roberto wearing Bill's hat. 

Bill our waitress, who didn't know what to make of Bill's teasing, and Roberto's wife Gloria. Sorry about the sunlight on Bill. No way to get rid of it. 

Some of the plants surrounding us. The black thing is an umbrella over our table. Protection from iguanas. 

Took this more to show the plate with the name of the restaurant on it, my breakfast,  just plain old scrambled eggs. 

Dora bringing us more coffee. I had the Mexican coffee Olla. It is kind of sweet. She was going to retire a couple of years ago, but says she can't stand just staying home. So she comes in on busy days and days she wants to be busy. 

The tile on the steps leading to the kitchen. Beautiful touches every where you look. 

The floor under our table and chairs. 

One wall in the ladies bathroom. I wanted to take more pictures but too many ladies waiting to get in. 

Looking at the main room full of tables and people. 

Roberto and Bill admiring the ladies making the tortillas. 

The just made tortillas on the griddle. 

Putting the ball of dough in the press to make the tortilla. 

One lady makes flour tortillas the other makes corn. After they are cooked they are put in baskets lined with napkins for the waitress to pick up. They are warm when served.

The front of the restaurant is an old hacienda. One of the walls. 

The owner of the restaurant is the man in the middle.

Back outside with all the venders and tourists. 

Still can't get a decent picture of this mural. 

Several horses to ride.

Lots and lots of auto, bus and foot traffic. 

And I'm going to stop here. We drove around the town for a while, have nice pictures of the homes. But they will keep. That evening we went to Torres to watch the sunset and have dinner. Another full day. 

Valentines Day in Centro.

 Saturday, right in the middle of Carnaval we decided take a trip to Centro. Called an Uber who took us the back way. Lots of things to see but his back windows were so tinted I could not get a decent picture. He let us off on the other side of the Plazuela Machado then where we usually enter. So first time this year I've seen this drawing of the Virgin. She is starting to look a little faded. 

The beautiful Angela Peralta Theater with hardly any one in front of it. 

The details on the building are beautiful. 

We stopped to check out this lamp. Beautiful work and design. And more details of the building. 

Just another look at it. 

Just one of many, many Pacifico booths set up for Carnaval goers. In the Plazuela Machado. 

The street we usually come down is closed to traffic and lined with vendor booths for a couple of blocks. 

We were there about noon, only a couple of the restaurants were open. Heard today that over 500,000 people came to the city for Carnaval. Guess they were still asleep when we were out. 

Bill and Ramon, our guitar playing friend. I like his guitar. 

Oh goody! the barrier that was around the building while it was getting a face lift is gone. It has been repainted the same color. Not all of the windows/doors on second floor have been redone yet. Hope to get over to see it again before we leave. The art gallery that was there a couple of years ago was closed. 

Another updated utility box. It says, "True success is that which is shared."

We stopped to eat lunch at Gaia. This audio/video was being filmed across the street. It was amazing how many people just walked right between them without even noticing. They had to do it over about three times.

Wow1 Never expected to see something like this here. Even has white walls. Yellow and blue Ford truck. 

Walking around a little looking at things. Hum...don't think I want to sit there. 

Papel Picado, traditional delicate and intricately cut paper decorations hanging over the walk way outside a gallery. Yes, I had to look up what they are called. They look so festive. The shadows are neat too. 

In need of some TLC. See the bush growing out of the roof. The front of the building was updated several years ago and has a couple of neat murals on it. 

The murals or drawings. Very intricate. 

Oh, oh, we stayed downtown too long. We called for an Uber and discovered the gates over the streets had been closed already. Had to met him in a different place. 

Going by the Panama Bakery We'd already been there. A pink car for Valentine's Day.

One of the cakes in the bakery. 

Valentine donuts any one? 

The girl is holding Bill's loaded tray of baked goods. 

Had to walk a couple of blocks to get the Uber. Sadly this building is now empty it used to contain a Spa, which has moved closer to the Plazuela Machado. Hope some one rents it or that it is at least kept up. 

A very big and beautiful bougainvillea in the residential area. Nice home too. 

The tile is a nice detail. 

This is a business, there is seating for something on the roof. 

About a half block away there is a huge quilt shop. Has all kinds of good material and sewing machines and long arm quilters. I stay out of there. Too tempting. 

A city tour company uses several pulmonias with different designs on them.

One of the new buildings under construction on the Malecon. The round things are the street lights. So pretty when they are lite up. 

The Fisherman's Monument. 

We were at a stop light right next to this monigote of the boy sitting on a drum. 

At the stop lights there is entertainment. He is dancing in costume.

Monument near the aquarium. don Cruz Lizarraga, the creator of the renowned Mother of all Bands known as Banda El Recodo. 

And of course Neptune.

And then another back way home. Lots and lots of traffic out and about. Stayed home rest of day except to go to Pancho's to eat dinner.