A Really fun and different day.

Yesterday we were busy most of the day. And had three big meals out. Not going to do or eat anything today except try to finish this post.
It was a beautiful day yesterday. Lots of blue sky and nice breeze and in town in the low 80's.
The guy who is going to work on the graphic on the RV was supposed to come at 8 a.m. but he was called away on an emergency so we had to whole day with nothing to do. 
So we got a hold of John and Jackie and decided to go to La Noria. But first Bill and I had breakfast at Torres - John and Jackie are staying there but had already eaten. I had a big, for me, breakfast of eggs, homefries, bacon and toast and part of Bill's fruit plate. Stuffed. 
We met up with them and hopped in car. Our first detour was through the little town of Habal. It's on the free road just before the east turn to La Noria. We haven't been through this town in 2 or 3 years. Firs thing we noticed - the main road in had been newly paved. 

Some info about the little town.  I only translated what I thought was necessary. There are approximately 1200 people living in El Habal. there are 356 houses. Of those 99,67% have electricity, 97,32% have city water, 94,98% have bathrooms, 65,89% radio, 97,66% television, 94,98% refrigerador, 76,25% washers,  42,14% automóvil,  15,38% una computadora personal, 42,81% landline telephone,  55,18% teléfono celular, y 11,71% Internet.
The fruit/vegetable truck delivering.

Some one spent a lot of time painting this wall. 

From all the home we passed I'd estimate 75% of them had some kind of tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe on their front porch. Statues and paintings.

One of the little shops in someones front room/garage where they make tortillas.

A mural of Mexican movie stars on the front of a small store. Mexican except for John Wayne down in the corner. 

When we passed this house the last time we were here they were butchering a big steer here on the front porch. I was too surprised to pick up my camera!

Seems like all the main streets have been paved. This used to be really rough and rutted dirt. Lots of dips, we are just coming off one and heading to another one. 

Leaving there we continued on to La Noria. Saw some orange cones in the road so knew we had to watch for someone trimming the weeds alongside the road with his machete. And here he is. He has got quite a bit done since first time we saw him a lot closer to La Noria. 

 As I said, a beautiful day for a short trip. Inland, this area, the temperatures were about 10 degrees hotter than the RV park in Mazatlan. Up to 89 and it was still morning.

Our friend Roberto's leather shop. See the concrete columns on the roof. It will eventually be an upstairs restaurant.

 Around the corner to the left is the opening into the courtyard where the construction is taking place. It will be two floors with a courtyard. Not sure what else, but we were told it would seat 300. Seems like a large project to me.

 Looking into the courtyard. The enclosed area on the bottom left of the back wall used to be where the towns butcher shop was. Somewhere back in time I took pictures of it. 

 From there we crossed the street to Antonio's leather shop. We went out behind it where these old structures are. They are well over 100 years old and at one time were barracks for the army. During one of the revolutions or invasions.

Looking inside one of the rooms. Very old ceiling/roof.

 The outside wall, can't really tell it from the picture but is is buckled and wavy instead of straight.

Working on part of a saddle. 

 The best picture I could get of the stitching. 

 A very old horse yoke. See the kittens sleeping by it. 

 Deer legs drying in the sun. Didn't ask, don't want to know.

 Leaving La Noria, a pretty yellow tree in bloom. 

On to Puerta de Canoas to see the dancing horses and get some candy. Many times we've stopped at this small training facility for the beautiful "dancing horses" of Mexico. The horses are trained here then go home to their owners. Isn't he a beauty. 

 We got to see this one. Took a couple of videos of the two horses that danced for us. 

 Isn't he pretty. 

Turn up you speakers for the music and the sounds of the barnyard. 

From here we went to the delicious candy factory. Actually the front room of a home. Bill waiting for us to go inside. This home is over 200 years old. The father of the lady who makes the candy used to make wagons for sale. Like the one behind Bill. Eventually pickups took their place. 

 Some of the candy in the pots and some shaped and hardening.

The candy is made in the kitchen behind the open door. The son of the candy maker.

 For the first time here we visited a little cheese factory. It is the white building up the hill. The candy maker's husband told Bill we should go visit it. It is quite a bit smaller than the one in El Quelite.

 The whey draining off into a filter then it is put into the buckets.

 The inside. The curds are in the plastic crates lined with cheese cloth. 

Showing us the finished product. 

And this was only half of our day. From here we went into the Centro Historico to do errands and eat lunch. Save that until tomorrow as today we are doing nothing.