First storm of the season ?

Well, the first that will directly affect us. Lots of storms and a few hurricanes but all well offshore. This has possibly the driest summer in the 10+ year I've been here. Hopefully this will dry out the surrounding farmland so more crops will be planted. We'll find out in the next few days.

From NOAA

Regardless of development, gusty winds and heavy rains causing flash floods and mud slides are expected in coastal portions of the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit this weekend into early next week. Interests in these areas and Baja California Sur should monitor the progress of this disturbance.

United States Embassy Mexico City
Security Message for U.S. Citizens:
Severe Weather in Mexico
September 3, 2016

The U.S. Embassy cautions U.S. citizens that severe weather is expected to bring gusty winds and very heavy rains to southwestern Mexico. Total rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches with isolated totals up to 15 inches are expected through the weekend into early next week over the southern Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit. These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Warm temperatures predicted

Warm weather for Mexico

Warm temperatures to extremely hot predicted over much of the country: SMN

COLIMA National Weather Service (SMN) predicts warm to extremely hot over much of the country's environment, and south and southeast wind gusting to 50 kilometers per hour. For Colima maximum temperature of 33 ° C is expected, with mostly clear sky.

Biosfera Sierra de Manantlan

This is a beautiful area and the most beautiful are not real easy to access. I've seen a very little bit from the Colima side and considerably more from the Jalisco side. Cuzalapa (the coffee town) is part of it as well as the 3-4 little towns on the way to Durazno. There is a road that goes from the Jalisco side over the top and down into Colima but I don't have the car to try it in. The biological station, sponsored by UNAM I think, is accessed further up highway 80.

Did you know? The Biosphere Reserve Sierra de Manantlán is included in the International Network of Biosphere Reserves UNESCO MAB program. It is an important bird conservation site and is one of the priority mountains for Conservation in Mexico.

A back road trip to Cuzalapa and Durazno

El Naranjo II - A forty year project

Not exactly 40 but the original plans sat quiet for 30 years until about 2008. A friend and I went up there a few times and the first time only the spillway was started and nothing on the dam. We got a tour of the spillway and power generating section from an engineer. Security was very loose back then but they won't let you near it now. When hurricane Jova came through all the work they had done was washed down river. Another time they had a cement base about half way across the valley. Just found this article from late last year and they have made progress.

Colima, Mexico, Advanced (18-12-2015) .- For over forty years, farmers in the region of Manzanillo and Cihuatlán have expected a reality of the promise of building a dam on the banks of the River Marabasco, but after countless obstacles, setbacks and unfulfilled government commitments, currently the work has not even reached 50 percent of its construction.

The first project, called El Naranjo, was drafted in 1971 but remained stagnant over thirty years.

In 2003, the theme was taken up by the federal deputy Roberto Preciado Cuevas under the name El Naranjo II, and a year later was adopted by Governor Gustavo Vazquez Montes, but both died in February 2005 when the state government plane crashed in Michoacan, while returning from Mexico city.

Rest of the Diarioavanzada article in Spanish

This was a quiz on Facebook

What are these?

Manzanita de Coco -or- Coconut Apple

They grow inside

I wondered why you never see them in fresh coconut and with a little research I find they only grow in older coconuts. Leave a coconut full of water (milk) sit for 8-10 months and these will grow. They are popular in Colima and Michoacan.

102 years since the skies were this dark

102 years since the Volcano de Colima has darkened the skies like this last eruption

The eruption of 1913 Colima Volcano began the 16 of January , reached its climax on 20 and ended with small pyroclastic flows (hot mixtures of gases , ash and fragments of rock ) on 24 January. The inhabitants of villages near the volcano, is remembered simply as "La reventazón".

To get an idea of the scope of this eruption 102 years ago an article explains that in January 1913 there were reports of ashfall in Saltillo, Coahuila, a city located 725 kilometers away; and Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, 262 kilometers from the Volcano of Fire.

102 años de una erupción que ‘oscureció’ a Colima

Infographic area pyroclastic flows, lahars and lava Colima Volcano

COLIMA The Interior Ministry published the infographic area pyroclastic flows, lahars and lava volcano of Colima, pointing in three areas of risk: red color as the area most endangered, orange as less dangerous area and the yellow and low risk. Colima volcano is located at an altitude of 3860 meters from sea level and 32 kilometers from the capital of Colima.

To see a specialist in Tecoman

I'd only been to Tecoman passing through to the Michoacan coast or to go to the beaches of El Real and Boca de Pascuales so I didn't really know my way around or how large the city is. Tecoman is not small, it's not a rectangular grid and it's very spread out.

Lorena had found a foot specialist for Maria that might give different options to skin grafts which were logistically and financially impossible. I relied on Lorena to get us there but she only had an address, no directions, didn't know Tecoman and the doctor was not answering his phone. It was near Cruz Roja so after asking many times we finally found the 600 block of Morelos which was about 15-20 blocks from town center.  Finally the doctor called back and said he would be in his office around 2-2:30 but it was noon and we were already 4th in line.

I had planned on running over to Boca de Pascuales to check out the surf but my city orientation was non existent at this point so I decided to walk back in the direction of the plaza and Mercado. Tecoman is totally flat so there is no vantage point except from upper levels of buildings and that seemed to be 2 stories at most. The city was once the Colima capital so is old but I found very few remains except for a few adobe structures still standing, often protruding into sidewalk space.

Was told the Mercado's name is Cuauhtémoc and is next to the plaza. It's interior is small and dark but lots of outside booths, stores and restaurants. There's a whole market area on the blocks surrounding the Mercado. A large modern church sits on the plaza and I hear it was finished in 2010 .... after the old one was damaged by the 2003 earthquake.  Can't find fotos of the old

Tecoman Plaza from the 2nd floor of the Municipal building

Street booths near the Plaza

Sidewalk store in the Mercado

A walk only street with booths and restaurants 

The famous Tuba vendor of Colima

One of my old Pascuales surf fotos - another day

A very long day in Colima after stopping at Burger King and Soriana in Manzanillo.  Soriana has started their school discount for many of the things kids will need for the following year.  We got back at 7:30

Skin grafts

Maria has had what I thought was a serious foot infection and with treatment it was getting better.   It seems it hasn't been infected for a few months but she still has 'open sores' ..... and by open sores I mean you can see a bone and a few tendons. Doctor says at the age of 86 and thin as a rail she just does not have the energy to grow more skin like younger person might. I'll let you search for photos if you really want to see something similar.

Intentional missing picture

So after using 3 doctors in the area including Dr. Rosa for cleaning, dressing and pain control we finally visited the head doctor of Centro de Salud // Seguro Popular in his private practice.  He was the first to tell us that skin grafts were the only way to close her wounds. He even said that Seguro Popular would do it for free ..... but at their Guadalajara hospital.

Problem is Guadalajara is 5 hours away requiring an overnight in a hotel the day before, probably using a taxi, very possibly a second hotel stay after, lots of gas, maybe tolls, food .... so we are talking  5-6000+/- pesos a trip   Total treatment is 3 visits a month apart.

Now comes the money issue.  Family can't and won't contribute.  It's really a combination of both but one side of the family hasn't helped with small things in the past.   Really sad and I can't help any more than I do. Maybe a "not free" doctor in Colima could cut the housing and gas out of the equation but it's still a couple thousand pesos.

I'm used to "if you really want it .... get it done".   Looks like this may not get done

Lots of Royal Roads

I've had the old black and white photo below for a long time and didn't really have a story to go along with it. A Blog post on Geo Mexico about a search for Camino Real and San Blas Nayarit got me wondering how many El Camino Real's are there. I mean El Camino Real sounds kinda special. The Royal Road is one translation but I believe it can also be The Kings Road .... basically a government road from here to there.  I don't understand how Nayarit could be a branch of either Mexico City to Colima or Mexico City to Santa Fe New Mexico Camino Real's.  Guess you'd have to read the book for that one

EL CAMINO REAL DE COLIMA "In 1524 the first viceroy of New Spain , Don Antonio de Mendoza ordered the construction of the historic Camino Real de Colima, which starting from the ancient Tenochtitlan, capital of the New Spain, to link to the Port of Manzanillo, through what is now the states of Michoacan, Jalisco and Colima. The monumental work was of enormous benefit to western Mexico and over the centuries contributed in its modern infrastructure today.

Now here is the El Camino I was familiar with besides the one in California

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro 

Growing up in California and next to "El Camino" we got to know the stories of the string of missions from Baja California to north of San Francisco and the road connecting them.

And here's one across Texas (a branch)

Hacienda Jaluco

I go round and round on the Internet trying to follow leads of just about anything of interest.   The latest is trying to follow up on some very old history of this area.   It's not surprising I found nothing because finding good info from the 40's or 50's for this area is difficult to impossible.  Probably doesn't help that my Spanish is not the best but I do know searching with Spanish works better than English for things like this.

The below map was posted on a Manzanillo/Colima section of Facebook.  It's reportedly from the 1900-1920 era which would be pre-revolution.   It's of interest to Colima because it gives credence to their age old claim to "La Culebra" which includes Isla de Navidad and Playa Los Coco's.   

What interests me is that big section across the top marked Hacienda de Jaluco which includes all of Melaque, Barra de Navidad, Jaluco and probably back to the mountains.   Also interesting how Laguna del Tule winds it's way over to the current canal in west Melaque.   

Well I'm taking a break from this bit of history but if anyone else has a clue ... please leave a comment.

A sad note about my neighbor's family

I took some neighbors and their 84 year old grandmother to the Jaluco Centro de Salud 2 days ago because she couldn't sleep due to pain in her legs. She has had a circulation problem for months but due to money concerns and being stoic, she hasn't seen a doctor. The doctor at Centro de Salud said she needed to go to Emergency at the General Hospital in Manzanillo so after gathering things together and informing family off we went. Grandma ended up spending the afternoon on an IV and it was later determined she needed better care so will spend a few days in Euchari Clinic.

Jaluco Centro de Salud

We found out yesterday that she needs to see a specialist in Colima because blood clots are cutting off circulation. If she can't get circulation back they will want to amputate. Of course the stoic grandma wants to die with both her legs in the company of her family and is not very pleased with all this medical attention. I had to tell the grand daughter that doctors won't insist and the decision will be up to grandma. If she wants to wait it out in one piece I don't know what they can do for the pain. There's probably something.

Very sad because she is a sweet, smart and handsome old girl

Two trips to Colima

Tuesday was our first trip to Colima in search of the Cancer Clinic. I had located it on Google Maps so had some idea. It turns out that the one I found is the old one and is either discontinued or being redone as a branch. They gave us directions to the new hospital near the highway across from the Toyota Dealer. We found that but it is for adults only. They said for children we'd have to go to the Regional University Hospital out by Home Depot east of town.

University Hospital is very large and busy and we spent most of the afternoon waiting in the Emergency line for an interview. Mom finally emerged with an appointment for Wednesday at 3pm to see a specialist that comes down from Guadalajara once a week. We got back to Melaque at 9pm and I remembered how much I don't like driving in the dark.

Yesterday we left at noon and were at the hospital early. I went to Home Depot and picked up two sets of kitchen cabinets and watched the moving of the "mono" in the glorietta which is being replaced by an overpass in front of the hospital.

The final good news is that the department head and the specialist didn't think much of the other doctors diagnosis. They said all she needs is a pediatrician who can help with a diet so she can gain some weight and possibly some balanced vitamin supplements. Needless to say we are all relieved to know she does not have what was feared.

State Cancer Institute

University Hospital

Moving a very strange "Mono" for the overpass

A sick 9 year old neighbor

I have a sick 9 year old neighbor and I hope if it's as serious as it sounds we've caught it in time. Her dad worked for me about a year building my house and the whole family and I spend a lot of time together. She has always been extremely thin but with lots of energy and good in school. A little over a month ago she started getting depressed, not playing much and having crying spells. Mom was worried and asked me about doctors and I thought of Dr Rosa who has an office in town but also works at the free clinic where we live.

Dr Rosa sent us for blood tests at the local lab and was unhappy with the results so we went to the Cihuatlan lab a few days later. The diagnosis is that she has an imbalance of white blood cells which can be caused by a number of things including leukemia. Dr Rosa said she needed to have a blood marrow test at a hospital in Guadalajara. That would have been a very time consuming and expensive trip so we decided to get a second opinion.

Today we went to Doctor Crespo in Barra de Navidad because he was the only one I could think of and the family only uses Centro de Salud or Seguro Popular. Mom and sister in law immediately said he was expensive but I was driving so we went. Very nice doctor and he spent about a half hour talking, examining and going over her blood tests. His opinion was the same but referred us to the State Cancer Clinic in Colima which will be a much quicker and less expensive trip. He even told us how to get in without an appointment ... and charged us nothing. We'll drive up later in the week.

Yari on the beach

Yari, mom and baby

The stuccoing has started

They did the upstairs laundry room in the last few days and today the stairs. To do the outside wall of the wash area they need three sets of "staging" (andamios) and we won't have those until next week. Stairs look nice but this is not the final coat. Finished will be much smoother.

We're now talking about cutting air vents in every room, size they should be, where located and what tools we will need. Need to do that before stucco and the stucco needs to be finished before the wiring, electrical fixtures installed and bathrooms are finished. I'm thinking of using a ventilation block (design that air passes thru) and mosquito net behind it.

Jimmy, Sandy and I are going to Home Depot in Colima this Sunday to look at doors, tools and block designs. The two of my interior doors are going to be wood and I want to have one on hand to make an exact fit.

Stairs looking good

Roof area looking from front to back

Laguna de Sayula

Laguna de Sayula is dry for over half the year and once the rains start it doesn't take long to fill. The first foto is from two months ago before the rain on my way to Melaque via Colima. The second foto is from three weeks ago heading to Melaque again on highway 54. It had rained almost every day for three weeks before I left this last time. Once I hit Colima no more rain and everything was still brown. It did rain twice over my three week visit but lots more sun than the Chapala area

Dry lake a few months ago

An eerie view in the rain with lake getting full

Highway Tuba Vendors

Even though this section of highway 54 is actually in Jalisco it's the gateway to Colima. They have been working on widening the section over the canyons for about a year but now it looks like they may be adding another lane or two. With so much hillside to move they have had to close one lane in a few places for the last month.

Stopping traffic for extended periods for months requires vendors and sure enough the Tuba vendors from Colima are stationed at each stopping point. Tuba is a palm drink made from the sap of the tree. It originated in the Philippines and was imported during the Spanish Gallon trade

Tuba Vendor

Nevado de Colima

Nevado de Colima even though it's not in Colima but Jalisco. Took these on the way back from a week in Melaque on highway 54 about even with Ciudad Guzman. Very pleasant week, good weather, saw lots of friends and mostly worked on my property.  The coast is green - most years it's brown in late December

Snow falls on the Nevado de Colima

GUADALAJARA, JAL., Jan. 2 .- The cold front number 21 brought the first snowfall to the higher peak Jalisco 2010. The Nevado de Colima woke up Sunday with two inches of snow, as confirmed by the director of the State Unit of Civil Protection and Fire, Trinidad López Rivas.

Information released by the daily Milenio Guadalajara, said that the snow appeared on the top of the mountains from three thousand feet above sea level, a site that is accessible to visitors. However, until this afternoon observers had not appeared, perhaps driven away by rain.

If it stops raining Sunday we'll be awaiting the arrival of visitors to witness the snowy landscape and the Civil Protection Unit is already prepared.

"It's suggested that those with the idea of going to the snow bring warm clothes because the temperature is 2 to 3 degrees Celsius," said Lopez Rivas.

University of Colima Volcano Cam

Universidad de Colima, a 32 km al sur del Volcan de Fuego

Colima Noticias Article

Red Foot Bridge

Interesting foot bridge from La Boquita beach across the canal to the Juluapan Peninsula on the north end of Santiago Bay, Manzanillo Colima

What taking back roads can turn into

This we found taking an alternet route from Cuzalapa Jalisco to Santiago Colima after visiting a coffee plantation.   And no, I was not just having fun ... that was the road or river ford.



Cuzulapa coffee trip