A small rock in the Atlantic

All about the island of La Palma, in the Canaries.

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Thursday, 4 February 2010

Breña Baja: The Old Butcher's Shop

The 19th century butcher's shop, Breña Baja, La PalmaThe 19th century butcher's shop, Breña Baja, La Palma

The old butcher's shop stands on the outskirts of the village of San Jose, in Breña Baja, near the Paradorof La Palma. The building dates from the late 19th century, and it was a butcher's shop until the 1960s. But now it's been renovated as a craft exhibition and shop.

The famous cigars of the Breñas San Jose de Breña Baja, La PalmaThe famous cigars of The Breñas

Although the place is small, they've packed a lot in. They've got lots of traditional embroidery and basketwork. They've also got the local cigars, which Winston Churchill enjoyed when he visited in 1959, and ceramics from a local artist.

Some of the fine embroidery and drawn-thread work on sale in San Jose de Breña Baja, La PalmaSome of the fine embroidery and drawn-thread work

And my personal favourite is the Canarian style rag rugs. Like most places, poorer people needed to make use of everything, and so they made rugs out of old clothes. Here, the cloth to be recycled was torn into narrow strips, which were then sewn together to make longer ones, and finally used as the weft thread on a loom (usually with a linen warp thread).

The shop opens on Tuesday -- Saturday, 4pm -- 8pm

A Canarian-style rag rug on sale in San Jose de Breña Baja, La PalmaA Canarian-style rag rug

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Thursday, 13 August 2009

La Palma's Annual Craft Fair

Traditional embroidery at the craft fair, Barlovento,  La Palma
Traditional embroidery

Every year on La Palma they hold a craft fair. This year it's in Barlovento, in the large building on the main street with all the flags outside.

Jewellery made from dragon tree seeds at the craft fair, Barlovento,  La Palma
Jewellery made from dragon tree seeds

There are over 80 stands, displaying a huge variety of products. Lots of traditional embroidery and baskets, of course, but also things I'd never seen before, like tied-dyed baby-clothes and ceramic-and-feather dragons.

Handmade glass beads at the craft fair, Barlovento,  La Palma
Handmade glass beads

Several stalls have people working on their crafts, so you can see glass beads being made, or rye straw twisted into baskets.

Woven palm leaves at the craft fair, Barlovento,  La Palma
Woven palm leaves

In some cases, it's fun to try to work out what traditional tools are for. The giant tongs are for picking prickly pears (they don't call them "prickly" for nothing). The wooden or metal tubes with air -holes at the end are for carrying a ferret so that you're both comfortable.

Handmade paper at the craft fair, Barlovento,  La Palma
Handmade paper

At the entrance level, there are lots of stalls selling food and drink: biscuits, doughnuts, cheese, jam, wine and rum. Several offer free samples - decide who's driving before you sample the rum!

Sheet metalwork at the craft fair, Barlovento,  La Palma
Sheet metalwork

The fair is open from 5 pm to 8 pm, Monday - Friday, and 11 am - 9pm Saturday and Sunday. Entrance is free.

Handmade tiles at the craft fair, Barlovento,  La Palma
Handmade tiles

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