vango

La Compaña was the largest prehispanic population center in western Mexico. This archeological site shows a relation to the classical period Teotihuacan culture. The Spaniards discovered the place in 1524 but it wasn't opened to the public until 1995. That site is about 134 hectares between the Colima River and Pereira creek but archaeologist think they have only explored about 1% of the site.

The ancients built a lot of stepped platforms and walls with good drainage. There are some shaft burial sites on the property but the one we visited was hard to see and enjoy.
Large stairways and platforms abounded. One near the parking lot had sets of steps coming from each of the four directions. It was thought to have a religious purpose. All were made of stones with some kind of cement to connect them. It was an interesting place to explore.

Ron could be found reading the newspaper over the shoulder of Don Enrique Ceballos. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Ceballos Hotel on another side of the square. Don Enrique was the hotel founder in 1956.

The Basilica sits next to the Government Palace on the square. This Neoclassical church with two towers and it dome in the front was built in 1894. The door is graced with a motto that seems rather disturbing until you realize that the translation of Misericordia is Merciful.

The inside is rather plain but I didn't do a lot of exploring because the priest was saying mass. I found the inner doors very interesting in that they had elaborate wooden designs over the glass.

Outside flanking the main door was a couple of carvings. One was St. Sebastian complete with arrows. One arrow was missing as evidenced by the plain round hole. I don't know who the other carving depicted but he is shown with a sword and a horse.

We visited the regional museum on the next side of the Square. It was originally the home of Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado who was later the President of the country in 1982. His bust stands outside the building in recognition of his contributions to Mexico. The museum founded in 1988 contains pre-columbian artifacts including a recreation of a shaft tomb.

I was a 100 kilometers to Colima but via a four lane toll road it went pretty fast. Manzanillo is situated between two curved curved bays. Our ship was parked in the west bay. We made our way up and over the hills and headed inland toward the volcanoes of Volcán de Fuego and Nevado de Colima. Guess which one is the active one!

We drove to the center of town where we were dropped off at the central square, Jardín Libertad.It was a pleasant tree filled space with a gazebo in the center. Diagonal walks crossed the park with a fountain at each entrance. It was either a goose or a swan I could not really say but the neck was stretched upward and spitting water.

Our first stop was at the Government Palace for a look at a mural by Colima painter Jorge Chávez Carrillo. The work called ¨México Independiente¨ was painted in 1953 runs up the staircase leading to the second floor and the Governor's office depicting scenes of Mexican History. It shows people like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. One wall depicts Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla , a local priest who lead the peasants and miners in a rebellion in 1810.