La Noria and La Martina Restaurant

We had a busy day yesterday. Started it out by watching the birds. Surprising to me several of them are still around. A woodpecker and a dove. Not that good of a picture but...   

The magpie jays - two of them were checking out the breadfruit tree.

He kept hiding behind the branches, but did manage to get one shot of him. 

Checking us out. We were outside sitting in the chair. There were two of them too. 

About 9:30 we piled in the Jeep and took off for La Noria with another couple who'd never been there. They drove their truck and followed us. 
Going into La Martina for breakfast. Love this living fence. Every year it is a little taller. 

La Martina, I know I've taken this same picture so many times, but it is just calling out to be photographed. 

From our table looking down on the event area. It was being mowed - love the smell of newly cut grass - with a hand mower. 

We all enjoyed our breakfasts as usual. Forgot to take pictures of them. Just a picture of a picture inside the patio room. 

Back on the road to La Noria, some of the colorful bougainvillea. 

The arch into town. La Noria was established in 1565 to provide support for the mines in the area. 
Now it is know for the leather work - saddles, shoes, belts, and handbags made there. 

Burro beside the road. There was a little one too, but didn't see it quick enough. Looks like he is tethered to a tree 

Also glad to see the town blacksmith. Very interesting man and love to go into the blacksmith shop which is just inside the door behind him. He is 70 years old now and has been working as a blacksmith his whole life. As was his farther and his grandfathers before him. All worked here in this shop. 

This anvil has been in use for over 200 years. Little by little its support is wearing away.

The forge. It now has an electric starter. Other than that it also hasn't changed much in a couple hundred years. Notice the wall behind it. The newer wall on the left is part of the house.

This one is pretty worn down too. The floor is hard packed dirt.

Some of the brands he has made over the years.  

Talking about the horse shoes he makes, all sizes for different types of animals. 

 The original ceiling. support beams with twigs with mud in between. 

 Coming to a tope heading into downtown La Noria

 Some of the homes. The turquoise building has a little store in it. The main corner of town. The bus has just stopped to let people off.

 See the weeds growing out of the roof of this very blue building. 

 Waiting for the bus to be unloaded. Lots of packages for someone in town. 

Watching the bus being unloaded.  

 Looking down a small side street. 

 If you've been reading the blog for a couple of years you will be pleased to see that the work on the hotel and restaurant has really progressed. The upper part of the building will be the hotel and restaurant. Just waiting for the glass windows to be installed. The nice wooden doors are new.

 The first floor has the leather shop - talabarteria - of our friend Roberto. That is where we were heading. 

More about our visit to La Noria tomorrow - partly because this post is getting long and partly because we didn't do anything today to write about so...
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