Ames' Adventures: Colima with Waltons

Colima is the name of the capital city in the state by the same name, but it is most famous for its significant landmarks - two volcanoes. On a clear day we can see the tip of the Nevado de Colima from our house. The Volcán de Colima (also known as the Volcán de Fuego) is the active, but younger one. It isn't always erupting, but this is what we saw from the highway.

The city of Colima has a beautiful large plaza and wide, clean streets.

From Colima we drove closer to the volcano. The town of Comala is known as a white pueblo because the facades of all of the buildings are painted white.

In the village of Suchitlan we walked around Waltons bought a traditional wooden mask from the local artist.

At lunch we watched this lady prepare tortillas in the traditional way. Blue corn, also known as Hopi Maize, is grown in northern Mexico as well as Arizona and New Mexico. It produces a sweeter taste and has more nutritional value than yellow corn.

These ladies were sorting beans, also grown locally.

Driving closer to Colima we enjoyed the views of the volcanoes and the countryside.

Information from the Internet about Volán de Colima:

Colima Volcano, Mexico’s most active, has been erupting since 1998. The eruption began with several months of earthquakes beneath the volcano, followed by explosions and rockfalls at the summit lava dome as it began to grow. Dome growth was accompanied months later by a series of lava flows which cascaded down the southwestern flank of the mountain, stretching up to 3,100 meters (10,000 feet) from the summit. Since then dome growth has continued, with a few periods of actively flowing lava. As of March 2010, the dome was growing about 2,000 cubic meters (70,000) cubic feet a day, leading to frequent small rockfalls and occasional ash plumes.

Camera zoom is great...but below is the true depth perception.

Our trip to Colima coincided with Semana Santa, Holy Week (Easter). In many towns in Mexico on Good Friday, people re-enact the events through a Passion Play, with local participants dressed in costume and the person depicting Christ carrying a cross. At the stations of the cross, the parade stops, while a priest gives a short description and sermon.