Leather heaven, also known as Naolinco

For weeks I have been counting down the days till my parents would arrive from Norway to visit me. Having been in Mexico for over two months already I was eager to show them this beautiful country, introduce them to the Mexican cuisine and my new found friends they have heard so much about. I also wanted to give them a full taste of what Mexico is all about. Over three weeks we will be traveling together through different places and our first stop was a day trip 32km outside Xalapa, to a little town called Naolinco. This town is famous for two things – leather crafts and its Day of the Dead celebrations.

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We headed off in the morning, my mother and I possibly a tiny bit more excited than my dad at the prospect of all the treasures we could find in the leather stores. After driving past quaint villages on steep, winding and very narrow roads for about an hour we arrived and were greeted by the iconic statue of a leather craftsman at the entrance to the town. 

"Yee-Haa!"

Naolinco far exceeded our expectations which were high to begin with! It is filled with cheerfully coloured houses and cobble-stoned streets, set aside in the mountains of Veracruz it has a much more rural feel to it than what I have experienced in other towns I have visited so far in Mexico. Everyone in the town smiled to us as we walked through the streets and made us feel very welcome there. It was also a delight to be able to stroll through this charming town at our own pace without ever being interrupted by a single person in a sales mode.

My mum and dad

Skillful transportation of pastry

I know which ride I would choose!

Health and safety plays by different rules here...

 

Colors and contrasts

 

In the end we returned with bags and gifts for ourselves and our loved ones, truly happy to have made the trip. In a few week’s time I’ll be heading back, this time with Emma and our friends, for its infamous Day of the Dead celebration. Perhaps due to being a "retired goth" I have always been fascinated by this tradition and can’t wait to experience a lifelong dream in a place renowned for it!

A day of the dead decoration already waiting for the big day!

Day of the Dead workshop session in progress

Even the sweets here are vividly colourful!