Vignettes of Colima
The sounds of Colima fill my spirits. A jazzy saxophone fills the morning air with favorites from the fifties and sixties. He sits on a bench in a walk way of tourist shops, perhaps waiting for some appreciation and money. I have only seen the musician once crossing the street with the instrument in a case. He's a short wiry black man with a very defined gait.
Then there are the sounds throughout the day of ambulante guitars singing traditional Mexican rancheros and love songs, a xylophone player contributing his notes, trios of mariachi singers meandering through the restaurants, and canned Mexican singing in the restaurants, taxis, and along the streets. It all contributes to a warm inviting atmosphere.
As I sit here writing loud sounds of mariachis, firecrackers are filling the air. Stepping to the patio I look from our balcony onto the street below and see a parade of bands, religious themed floats with the village Virgin dominating the event.
Speaking of life along the streets...a trotamundo named Tomas (88 years old) is traveling to all the capitals of the Mexican states carrying his sign "Pick up the garbage and keep your community clean". One afternoon we talked with him in the Plaza as he was resting from his walk around town and he proudly showed us the many newspaper articles from all over the country describing his mission. The entire project is financed from his small business in Puebla. But, he happily accepted our small donation! Unfortunately, this week he fell and broke his four front teeth which requires him to return briefly to Puebla to get a bridge.
A journey to neighboring Nogueras introduced us to Alexander Rangel Hidalgo (1923-2000), a world class painter, illustrator, furniture designer, and collector of pre-Hispanic artifacts, especially the Xoloitzcuintle dogs. He uses great detail in his gaouche paintings of children, villages, highly decorated altars. The museum was located on the ex-Hacienda Nogueras (a former sugar mill) which he purchased for his life and work.
Alexander Rangel's collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts dating from 1500 BC-1200 AD.
I am sad to leave Hotel Ceballos, this lovely building of the Neo Gothic facade, sturdy columns of volcanic stones, beautiful plants and the expansive elegant hallways and statuesque interior patios. It has stood proudly here since the 19th century sharing their area with the traditional "Plaza de Armas", now called "Jardin Libertad" (Freedom Garden in the center of which is a bandstand. It was built as the home of a general in 1860 but was sold in 1920 to Don Enrique Ceballos, a successful businessman who later made it into a hotel for travelers.
As I sit here writing loud sounds of mariachis, firecrackers are filling the air. Stepping to the patio I look from our balcony onto the street below and see a parade of bands, religious themed floats with the village Virgin dominating the event.
Speaking of life along the streets...a trotamundo named Tomas (88 years old) is traveling to all the capitals of the Mexican states carrying his sign "Pick up the garbage and keep your community clean". One afternoon we talked with him in the Plaza as he was resting from his walk around town and he proudly showed us the many newspaper articles from all over the country describing his mission. The entire project is financed from his small business in Puebla. But, he happily accepted our small donation! Unfortunately, this week he fell and broke his four front teeth which requires him to return briefly to Puebla to get a bridge.
A journey to neighboring Nogueras introduced us to Alexander Rangel Hidalgo (1923-2000), a world class painter, illustrator, furniture designer, and collector of pre-Hispanic artifacts, especially the Xoloitzcuintle dogs. He uses great detail in his gaouche paintings of children, villages, highly decorated altars. The museum was located on the ex-Hacienda Nogueras (a former sugar mill) which he purchased for his life and work.
Alexander Rangel's collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts dating from 1500 BC-1200 AD.
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Upon returning to our hotel we realized that all the paintings on the upper level are all from his collection.
We also appreciate the photos and drawings shown below of Zamarripa, dancer, artist, sculptor, and teacher. These we found in the hallway outside our hotel room. Zamarripa helped organize the Colima Folklore group at the University of Colima, as both a dancer and choreographer.
I am sad to leave Hotel Ceballos, this lovely building of the Neo Gothic facade, sturdy columns of volcanic stones, beautiful plants and the expansive elegant hallways and statuesque interior patios. It has stood proudly here since the 19th century sharing their area with the traditional "Plaza de Armas", now called "Jardin Libertad" (Freedom Garden in the center of which is a bandstand. It was built as the home of a general in 1860 but was sold in 1920 to Don Enrique Ceballos, a successful businessman who later made it into a hotel for travelers.
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