Pet Adoption on Melaque Plaza

ADOPTIONS WEDNESDAY DEC. 23!

We've got puppies & kittens as well as adult dogs looking for new families. 5:30PM in the Melaque Jardin.

Pastel y Pozole

Yari turned 13 on Sunday and we had a great party. A yard full of kids and a huge pot of Pozole. She got the face in the cake treatment again but it was dark and nothing like last year. Most of her school friends couldn't come to the party so they had a second party on the Melaque Plaza last night after school.

She wanted chocolate this year

My Pozole

Kid stuff

Yari and friends doing Facebook

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

Fiesta San Patricio

Fiesta San Patricio officially started a few days ago and we went the first day because the kids wanted to go on the rides and we wanted to see what was new. The only thing really new is the carnival equipment is newer, larger and more expensive this year. It even spills into the adjoining street behind OXXO. Fiesta San Patricio lasts about 10-12 days but the carnival rides will be here through Semana Santa.

We parked on the corner of the plaza early and after 3 hours the car was in the middle of a traffic and people jam.   Decided to make our escape early before we were totally trapped.  We'll go again tomorrow night to see the castillo fireworks between 11 and 12.   Thursdays usually have less people and we'll park by the highway to avoid traffic.

Big Ferris Wheel (Noria ?)

Little Ferris Wheel

The crowd in the plaza

Back to Tequila

Tequila is a cool little town and not at all what I remember when we passed through in '98/'99. Back then it looked much dirtier with no sidewalks along the highway and some pretty funky taco stands. Tequila has come a long way even though it seems to be in the middle of nowhere in a very dry valley. The plaza is off to the side of the main church and looks much less like the center of town as in other Mexican towns. They do have functions and meetings there and that's where the Tequila tour buses wait for tourists, but it's almost easy to miss.

Across the main street from the church is the Chapel of the Hospital del los Indios which used to be a Franciscan Hospital for the local Indians. The wide main street is one-way headed toward the church. The sidewalks are wide and lined with shops and seems to be where people see and want to be seen. Lots of country and western equipment stores.

We didn't take one of the distillery tour buses on the plaza as we had run into the Cofradia tour before we got there. Our hotel also had a distillery and tour but they didn't advertise or offer when we checked in. The young girl at the desk preferred to watch TV rather than do some extra business. We were the only ones in the hotel that had close to 100 rooms. Off season I guess.

Main church with plaza off to left

Chapel of the Hospital del los Indios

Inside Chapel of the Hospital del los Indios

The funky distillery tour bus 

Main street as it was getting dark

Need a hat?

A circus the right size for Pinal Villa

I've never seen a circus (circo) this small before but this one is the right size for Pinal Villa. We have the rides, trampolines and Foosball kind of fairs for the kids a few times a year but they usually set up on the edge of the plaza. For some reason this circus rented a lot on the corner of the plaza and set up there. Not sure how these guys make any money as Pinal is pretty poor but they have a big Kenworth that pulls the trailer and the announcer that drives around town has a nice little car. The RV even had air conditioning running. The life of a Carny in Mexico.

From the corner of the plaza

This must carry the tent and seats

Main entrance

Under the Big Top

Weekday night on the Melaque Plaza

We went down to the Melaque Plaza because they thought there was a small carnival with kids rides. Looks like they will be there next week but were not last week. Been awhile since I'd been there at night and was surprised at all the activities.

Lots of people eating on all sides of the plaza. Vendors selling glowing things from China. A spray paint artist turning out a new one every 10 minutes and selling them for only 50 pesos ($4.50us). When I told some gringos they were 50 and not 500, they bought one. We all had a great time just watching the show.

Taco stands over by the school

Two sit-down restaurants by the taxi stand

More tacos by the church

Spray paint artist

Glowing things from China

Coca Cola Santa

We picked up Euriel at the Secondaria at 7 when it lets out. The rumor was the "Santa Parade" would be from 6;30-7 and we expected to miss it. We got to the plaza and the two new bars were trying to outdo each other for volume. The kids (lots) loved it - bouncing around the plaza and top honors go to the new one over 7-Stars for choice of music.

If we hadn't felt like a few tacos and beers we would have been long gone ... but come 8:15 along came the the "Coke Float" with lots of balls and candy to throw at the crowd. It was a big crowd but Coke cut it's costs this year. In years past there have been real floats and a number of them, this year just the one. Lots of fun and lights around the Melaque plaza

Goodbye to Jocotepec

Had to take a last minute walk around town yesterday for a few fotos and last minute shopping. Sadly my favorite tortas filled with queso and jalepeno were not there in the market.

I thought they were re-painting the central area for the 2010 celebration but they are still working on parts of it. The buildings used to be a rather dull two-tone brown ... and I like the new white and grey. There was some plaster repair around the plaza ... but the Mercado got a whole new facade. Really nice.

So I'm off to Melaque for the winter and probably beyond. Got this house project I've been working on for over 2 years now if you can believe it. See ya there !!

New face on the central mercado

New paint on the Municipio Building

Gorditas Nata

I took a walk down to the plaza to see what was up with the festivities for Señor Monte, Jocotepec's two week festival. They were still setting the kiddie rides and had not closed all the streets last week. Today all done. I think people are out during the day (and Sunday) because it's pretty damned chilly here at night. Lots of people.


This is the first time I've seen Gorditas Nata and asked what they were and then to make sure - ordered three. A little sweet, kinda like pancakes but they don't rise. She flips them 4-5 times leaving just a sliver of uncooked dough in the middle. Moist and tasty!

Christmas Tianguis in Jocotepec

Thursday is Tianguis day in Joco and was also the day before Christmas. That makes for a huge day of normal shopping as well as last minute shopping for presents. Vendor stands totally filled the plaza surrounding the Christmas tree and nativity scene. Mostly toys but also lots of clothing, food ... and people watching.

I made three trips to the plaza yesterday - one just to see in the morning and take some photos, a second with Maria and family shopping for clothes and food for our Xmas day dinner and a third in the evening with gringo friends to check the festivities and eat dinner. I'm still not a night photographer but friends had cameras and am hoping they got a few good shots. All are Bloggers so will wait to see what they post.

It seemed like the whole town was in a good mood as we walked back home checking out a few nativity scenes in front of private homes. Lots of hello's, buenas noches, Feliz Navidades, hand shakes and hugs. A very pleasant evening !!