A day in Colima

Tuesday, February 3


The city of Colima is actually quite a nice city. We are so getting used to the poverty in the country, where we have spent most of our time, it almost comes as a surprise to see nice houses, big, modern stores and clean streets.I nalos find COlima a very friendly city. Police is always there to assist you, whether it is to make sure you are able to cross the street safely or to give you directions.

We are starting to get to know our way around Colima and have no problem finding the places we want to visit.
We have always been intrigued by the statue of the “dancing” dogs, whhich announces that we have arrived in the city. These statues are a tribute to an important prehispanic symbol of the region. The “Perritos Colimotes” as they are called, are made of clay and can be found throughout the entire state of Coloma. This statue, at the north western entrance of the city, at the third periferico (ringroad), is made of bronze. It weighs 2 ton and is three meters in height.
Along this same road are a number of new developments. The new townhouses, as we call them are very colourful. I have noticed that back in Canada, we are also starting to see more of these type of buildings. with the facade at different levels and also a multitude of colours. It looks so fresh.
The unfortunate thing however is, that within a few years these houses need to be repainted, because of the heavy summer rains.

We stop at the first Cathedral, which at one time was a convent dating back to the prehispanic era. The convent itself consisted only of one building, the rest of the land around it was used for the horses, agriculture and a health clinic which was being run by the Indians.

Colima has a beautiful downtown, which is our next stop. We park the car at the parking garage at the very modern shopping centre. As we see the broken wall, we recall an incident which made the news a few days ago. A car which intended to park there, drove right through the protection wall and tumbled down the street below up side down. Luckily no one was seriously injured.

We are prepared for super hot temperatures and are happy to find the Best Western on the corner of the plaza. There is a large patio where we have been before. I know that this is one of the very few places where they sell Gin Tonic.
With this heat this is a real treat. We could sit here forever. There is not a breeze and the air is almost stale. Even the pigeons are too hot to move around.
But there is more to see. The Cathedral, The Government Palace with it’s murals and the gardens. Even the tourist information centre is right here. Everything very conveniently located within one block.
Politics and religion went hand in hand in the earlier days as the mural in the Government building depicts. It was a famous priest who fought for freedom for the people.

We visit the watchmaker to find a replacement battery for my watch and we start an interesting conversation. There are clocks and watches from all ages. The co-owner explains, that his father started the shop over 50 years ago and now he and his brothers run it. He pulls out an antique pocket watch and a clock that was used in a ship. He opens the back of each watch to show us the clock work. So clean and so crisp. There are hundreds of tiny moving parts.

I can’t help but notice the large number of clocks on the wall, without a face. “They can not be repaired” we are told. What a shame. Even the case is worth hanging some place other than this messy shop. (Oh, I forgot I am in Mexico).

We walk down the street with it’s numerous stores. Even though an enormous amount of packaged candy is being sold here there is also plenty of natural foods in bulk available, such as Hybiscus leaves, from which a nice refreshing cold tea is made, or some sort of pod with large beans inside which is used as a snack. These pods come from large flowering trees.

There’s one more church we want to visit. It’s the church of San Fransisco the Asis in Villa de Alvares, at the north west edge of town.
There is a funeral going on and we watch the people as they enter the church or wait outside. The hearsh is waiting and behind it a truck with giant flower arrangements. People sure like their flowers here.
Almost every person on the benches or walking around is eating a popsicle. It makes our mouths water, but we better not get into those things, not knowing what they have been made of.

We go home and rest a bit before I get back to my computer to try to work on some of my Rotary projects.