1 March 2003
Trip to Jala (the city of witches) and Volcán Ceboruco
We leave from La Peñita de Jaltemba with the Murrays for a trip to Jala and Volcano Ceboruco
The Murray family and Vicky
All are in front of the jeep by Casa Libertad in La Peñita de Jaltemba. The jeep, a 1985 Cj7 will be full with 7 people
The plaza at Jomulco
We park and guide Vicky shows the Murrays around.
El Palacio at Jomulco
The government offices are located right across the street from the plaza.
The church at Jomulco
The pretty little church with neatly kept grounds
The old church
This was part of the old convent back in the early 1500's. You can climb the narrow bell tower and look over the city.
The main and newer cathederal in Jala
This cathederal dates back about a hundred years and is of neo classic design.
The only hotel in town
A very old building probably dating back a couple of hundred years. The woman in the store next door opened the door with a near 5 lb. key that looked like it should have been used for the tower of London.
Statue of Jose Maria Morelos
A famous fighter for the independence of Mexico.
A narrow cobblestone street
These homes were built a couple of hundred years ago. In those days the design was for defense. Few windows face the street. Strong doors. A large interior patio where they could keep livestock, fruit trees and gardens. The defenders fought from the rooftops against Indians, bandits, and the French and Spanish. Life was hard.
A bath room in the hotel
Two bathrooms serve the 5 hotel rooms. It was clean.
One of the bedrooms in the hotel
Rooms are small but clean. Rent is about $15 U.S. depending upon the room.
The lobby of the hotel
Spacious and comfortable. If you need TV, forget it.
Cobblestone road up Volcano Ceboruco
The road was rough cobblestone almost all of the way to the top.
View of Jala from Volcano Ceboruco
A nice view of Jala as we start to climb.
The volcano is still alive
Steam comes out of the ground from unknown depths beneath the crater.
The author in front of steam beds
Bob puts on a jacket because it is cold up here. This crater is about 6000 ft high.
Steam pours from the mountain
A green patch of vegetation is growing and fed by the fallout from the steam. This volcano has errupted 5 times during the last 500 years. The last erruption was in 1870, and destroyed several villages. Is it time for the next? I hope not today.
The floor of one of the craters
This crater errupted 1657. The floor is near level, like it may have been a lake bed at one time. It is pine studded and very pretty.
Picnic area in a crater
A recent improvement are picnic tables and umbrellas. We have lunch in style.
Coapan and Jala
A great view of Coapan (said to have very beautiful woman) and Jala from the communications station near the top of Ceboruca. The elevation here is about 2000 meters.
A view of the valley
The valley and lava may be seen.
The floor of a crater
Pretty pines and rugged cliffs here.
A third pretty church in Jala
On the way back through Jala we stop by this church with beautiful grounds. There were many orange and lemon trees. We were told this church dates back to the 1700's.
Side entrance to this third old church
Each rock was cut and hand fitted. Little mortar was used.
Break time in Jala
We grab a last cup of coffee before the long trip back.
The museum in Jala
There are many interesting artifacts here. Maps, depicting the different times and peoples. Statues, bones, even back to the dinosaur days.
Government offices
The plaza across from the museum
There were several plazas in Jala. Noted is the annual religious festival, August 6 - 15 and the corn festival on Aug 14. Jala is noted for corn.
