 Comala
Comala is a delightfully tranquil small colonial town
with a beautiful plaza accented with a stunning recently restored templo (church) and many
open air cafe's that serve delicious complimentary free botanas (appetizers)
when you purchase liquid refreshments. Around 3:00 in the afternoon the cafe
tables begin to fill with Comaltecos (people from Comala). This is siesta time when it's
almost required that you relax, unwind and enjoy refreshing drinks, tasty complimentary
botanas (appetizers) and good conversation with friends, fellow
travelers and Comaltecos.
 One of the most engaging things to do in Comala or any new town is to get out and take a walk. Comala is a city of beautiful doors. Early morning before 10:00 am is best time to be out walking in Comala. If you are a photographer you will find that the light is best between 7:00 and 8:30 am. This is generally true all over this region. The tropical sun begins to wash out rich, saturated colors that are in full sun by 9:00 am.
Early morning is also the best time to view the Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) as the east light on the volcano is best at this time. The Volcan de Fuego is in an active period and on most days you can see a strong plume of steam and ash rising from the top of the cone.
We will visit nearby restored Exhacienda
Nogueras. This is a classic colonial era hacienda that has been
beautifully restored and houses the Museo Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo featuring an outstanding collection of pre Columbian ceramic
art found in and around Comala. The Museum is named in honor of Comala's most famous artist Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo and features a fine collection of his work as well as a reproduction of an early hacienda kitchen. The University of Colima has transformed part of the hacienda grounds into a small eco-reserve. Wander around these delightful grounds and you may just get lucky and see one or more of los perritos de Colima (little dogs of Colima) playing in the grass. Colima's famous dogs were near the brink of extinction as recently as 30 years ago. Today these cute little dogs are growing in numbers and rejoining a regional culture that holds them in high esteem.
Los perritos de Colima or the little dogs of Colima are famous
all over México. These dignified little critters occupied
a very special place in the after-life mythology of
regional pre Columbian peoples. Pre Columbian cultures commissioned
local artisans to create sturdy ceramic sculptures of los
perritos. When a person passed on to the next
world these ceramic dogs were buried along with their masters in tumbas
de tiro or shaft tombs. It was
believed that los perritos were the guides for the dead
in the after life and helped the dead with gathering food and finding their way in the next world.
How to Get To Comala From Colima and Return
After you arrive in México you will receive my Foreign Affairs Travel Guide which will detail how to get to Colima, Comala and Suchitlán as well as how to return from Colima to Cuyutlán. This detailed guide plus your travel experiences getting to Cuyutlán and Colima City will give you all the information you will need to strike out on your own. |
