Dancing Horses in Puerta de Canoas

Had the heater on first thing in the morning yesterday and this morning too – more than a “little” nippy in Jennie. But it warmed up to be a nice day. Bill fixed one of his delicious breakfasts and off we went to La Noria.

There are some trees here that are just starting to bloom and they have bright yellow flowers – blooming in the middle of winter. These are just as we come into the town of La Noria.

When we pulled up to Roberto’s shop the first thing we saw were a couple of masks in progress setting on the sidewalk drying.

Went inside to say hi and Bill got right to work with Sergio – 

Roberto was busy making belts for some customers.

I went outside and wandered around town for a while. This man was shopping as his horse stood patiently by. He was going into the little store on the corner

All done shopping – on his way home or to meet up with his gossiping buddies down the street.

Wandered down this little cobblestone street – I really need to remember to wear tennis shoes if I’m going walking. How do those girls walk on their very high heels on these streets? I’d kill my ankles or me.

Saw this little burro who was not impressed at all with me trying to get him to give me a good photo. Strange marking down his shoulder – wonder if he wanted to be a zebra?

I took a lot of photos of things that struck my fancy but decided not to post them as this is going to be a long post. Maybe next time when I don’t have anything to talk about.

This is just an orange wall in the sunshine with some flowers against it. I liked it.

A back yard shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe. With a table and some chairs near it.

I liked the colors here but the photo doesn’t do them justice. All the different colored bougainvilleas and the laundry in the yard behind them. Pretty neat fence too.

After my walk I sat outside the leather shop and worked on my knitting…..and it was work. I thought knitting was supposed to be relaxing – the sweat was pouring down into my eyes I was working so hard. [tore it all out when we got home and started again] Still not much better but not quite as terrible. Here is what it looked like – stop laughing it’s not funny – well yah it kind of is. I picked that color yarn because I figured it wouldn't show dirt as I knitted and ripped and knitted and ripped. 

Lessons finished we started back towards Mazatlan but saw a tourist van heading into the little town of Puerta de Canoas. “Oh! Oh! follow that van.” I said poking Bill and scaring the crap out of him. But follow the van we did.

Saw this lady carrying a whole sack of nopales – the leaves off of a prickly pear cactus. There is a whole field of them growing up on the highway. A farm or plantation I guess.

The vans first stop was at a horse trainer’s stable. Bill asked the tour guide what was going on and he said they were stopping to see the dancing horses. Bill asked if we could join them. Sure come on back. This is the first horse he brought out to show.

Absolutely beautiful. It is a Frisian bought in Holland at the tune of around US$45,000!!! The Friesian is recognized by its black coat color. A Friesian horse also has a long, thick mane and tail, often wavy, and "feathers"–long, silky hair on the lower legs, deliberately left untrimmed.

 He is part Clydesdale and part Pure Spanish horse the Andalusian.

Alberto, the trainer just trains the horses for their owners who enter them in rodeos, exhibitions and contests etc. He says it takes about one year to train one.

This is the second one he showed us. He is part quarter horse and part Spanish horse and was much lighter on his feet.

The saddles that they use are a type of saddle used mostly in Sinaloa by the Charros – Mexican cowboy – in the Charreada – rodeos. They have the big wooden horn for the Charros ropes.

From there we watched some tortillas being made – the tourist were going to learn to make them and eat at the little restaurant. 

So we went on to the candy factory. Yes we actually found it and it was open. Turns out it is only one room of a big house. Two ladies working there making and packaging the candies.

Candies are called jamoncillos, they are a regional candy from northern Mexico. And I love them – taste like dulce de leche and/or maple sugar candies. Very sweet.The candy mixture waiting to be dished out.

Some that was in the shape of candy kisses.

This batch was rolled into balls and then coated with chopped nuts.

We bought some of both kinds. And we can always go back for more now that we know where it is.

Thought this was cute. Outside on the porch sat the old wagon and a new electric toy car.

A fun day.

When we got home and I read George’s blog we realized he was on his way to Mazatlan so we stayed home waiting for him. By 8:00 he still hadn’t arrived so we figured he’d stopped somewhere along the way for the night. Then Bill suggested I check our email and his blog to see where he was. OOPPS! There on his blog was a message for us. He was waiting at a Pemex station not too far from us because he couldn’t find the RV park. His GPS sent him the wrong way…..So we hopped in Willie and went down to meet him. He is now parked across from us at Las Jaibas – the only space left back here with all the Caravaners here.