We stumbled upon a shoemaker in Valladolid. Leather, shoe patterns, soles made out of recycled tires, and sandals surrounded him and his family. The shoemaker's wife was the salesperson.
Rows and rows of shoes, mostly sandals, hung from a peg board with a small nail that was inserted in the rubber tire sole.
The family did not stop working while we were there.
The shoe maker's shop is on the main square across from the church.
There are several shoemaker's in Valladolid, the shop Coqui Coqui has chicer sandals, but I found the artisan's shoe shop, his family and the soles made out of the tire rubber appealing. French Husband and I both bought a pair ($15 a pair).
Actually I found the entire town of Valladolid appealing: The people, the town square with the many vendors offering their handmade lace skirts and wares, the restaurants, cenotes, shops, the colonial style buildings, the perfectly peeling facades and doorways.
Vallalodia is in land from Cancun, and about halfway between Merida and Tulum.
When I was in high school I had a pair of shoes like this, I loved them. Before leaving for Mexico I hoped that I would find another pair… fortunately I did in Valladolid. I bought a pair that the natural untreated leather will stain with wear, just like the pair I had in high school. French Husband's pair has a polished tan stain on them… they look classy.
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