What is this & how is it used?

I wanted to share with you something that I think is pretty darn neat.  You see these all over the city on the outside walls of homes.  What  are they and how are they used?  No, they are not torture devices left from the Spanish days....

 

Look just left of the flowering shrub on the wall and you will see one of these items.

 

The picture above is an open device.  Now, maybe you can see how they are used.  All three pictures were from different places.  They hang on the outside of the walls around the individual homes. 

 

 

This is were the residents place their trash bags on collection days.  The locals do not have much garbage for collection so these will hold the few small trash bags they have each week.  Cuenca does not have any lease laws for animals, you do see many dogs running free around the housing areas.  These metal grates keep the trash above the dogs reach.

 

I think these are a great idea and really do keep the city much cleaner. 

 

 

Now you've learned something,

Peggy