TAPALPA…is a hilltown in Jalisco set among pine trees at a cool seven thousand feet.
The first thing one notices is that the town is made of stone and wood. Ancient wooden beams hold up galleries making cool colonnades.
Above right-the Cultural centre in which there is a little museum.
Behind the new church is part of the old church Templo San Antonio built in 1650.
Left and right-The new church Nuestra Sanora de Guadalupe built in 1950is all exposed brick with no surfacing. Austere but dramatic.
Above the colonnades that surround the plaza. One looks into ancient stores with well worn plank flooring.
Below- old bowls and jars in the little museum of the kitchen.
Below– a restaurant in the Plaza.
Below -the ancient Casa de Maty hotel in the centre of town which was once an old hacienda.
Above-This house was baking and serving customers out of the window.
Above- We stayed at the Hotel Casona de Manzano.
Manzano means apple in Spanish and this area was probably the orchard of the original hacienda. Our room was in that corner above.
The hotel is part of a group called Rural houses and haciendas of Jalisco.
Above a view of the courtyard and below a view of the garden at the rear looking out over the town on a cool gray day.
Below-East of the centro is the church of Nuestra Senora de la Mercedes.
No expense seemed to have been spared in the making of the church but unfortunately there now seems to be water damage slowly eroding the paintwork.
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Just outside of town is the Tapalpa Country Club.
Below-Buena vistas from the terrace of the restaurant.
Set among pine trees with great views are many private modern homes built with rustic detailing.
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Above –On the way to Tapalpa there is the The Hacienda El Limon which is now a boutique hotel.
Below– This Tree of Life greets the visitor in the lobby.
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MAZAMITLA
Mazamitla is on the south side of Lake Chapala about an hours drive away and a further 1000 feet higher into highlands of pine and oak forests. Distant views of El Vulcan near ColimaIt is in the next State of Michoacan and is very green most of the year. In fact in winter it can be quite cool especially when the Sun goes down.
Above– The narrow streets are typical of Mexican hilltowns in that every building is painted red and white and all lettering is in black and red gothic lettering style.
The main town plaza has a church that looks like it migrated from Tibet.
Below-The architecture is very alpine using much wood with overhanging galleries and support columns.
Above-the plaza a hundred years ago.
Below- a courtyard with a cafe and plants for sale.
Below-Inside a house we were invited into-because we were just looking !.
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