BajaNomad

Images from Another Mexican State

DianaT - 12-19-2006 at 07:38 PM

Well, while going through physical therapy, playing with my pictures is becoming a part of my mental therapy. :spingrin:

Chihuahua, Mexico's largest state, a northern state so easy to reach----just keep going east on Highway 2. It is a fasinacting place with its wide open spaces rich in history. The Paquime ruins are related to the U. S. southwest Pueblo ruins, but the current revived pottery tradition is not constrained with only traditional patterns.

The US violated Mexican territory in Chihuahua when Black Jack Pershing chased Pancho Villa; Pancho retired there peacefully, and was later assasinated. Before the revolution, almost the entire state was ruled by one wealthy landowner.

George Romney, the father of the Mitt Romney who may run for President in 2008 was born there. When George ran for the nomination, it presented a question that never needed to be answered. He was a natural US citizen, but was not born in the US.

Today, the landscape is influenced by Mexican ranchers with friendly towns and some wild rodeos. Many still operating without electricity by choice, there are many Mennonite ranchers who immigrated from Canada many years ago to avoid service in the military. Mormon influence is strong with Colonia Juaraz that was settled when Utah became a state and banned polygamy. And many of the Tarahumara people still cling to a separate culture in the Copper Canyon area.

OK, there is no ocean access in Chihuahua, but it is still a place many nomads would enjoy---many probably already have done so. So, here are just a few images from Chihuahua---not in any order, and they only scratch the surface of this wonderful place. Don't know if it will all fit in one post, if not, I will split it. :yes:

































































Thank you for sharing a part of my therapy. Boy, do I need to get well and get back on the road.

Diane

FARASHA - 12-20-2006 at 01:07 AM

THANKS for the nice Photos!!How is your Knee (? I think that was your Knee that had to be fixed?) doing? Healing good?

JESSE - 12-20-2006 at 01:27 AM

That church is beautiful, looks like Chihuahua right?

dean miller - 12-20-2006 at 04:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter


The US violated Mexican territory in Chihuahua when Black Jack Pershing chased Pancho Villa; Pancho retired there peacefully, and was later assasinated. Before the revolution, almost the entire state was ruled by one wealthy landowner.

George Romney, the father of the Mitt Romney who may run for President in 2008 was born there. When George ran for the nomination, it presented a question that never needed to be answered. He was a natural US citizen, but was not born in the US.

Mormon influence is strong with Colonia Juaraz that was settled when Utah became a state and banned polygamy. quote]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The US did not violate Mexican territory in 1914. The US entered only after Villa raided Columbus New Mexico,USA, killing many and almost destrying the villiage. It was after this raid that Pershing and the US troops entered northern Mexico to protect the lives of Americans and Mormons living there.

Under the guidance of Henry Bowman the Mormons traveled to Mexico to establish a colony and peacefully settle in Dublan - Some might have re-settled in other palces in more recent times.

Villa expelled all the Mormons, just like in Navoo they had to leave their homes, their belonings. They traveled in mass via foot to the railroad line where they were picked up three days later by Jack Pershing's troops. All ended up with out a purse or a county in El Paso Texas USA--one was the Romeny family. They along with many others have become productive citizens of the US, and of course many returned to Mexico and have also become pillars of the Mexican community.

History has established that Villa certainly was no hero to the Mexicans or a friend of the US.. Recall in the 1920s when the 20+(22 or 23!) Americans were removed from a train and lined up and executed? He was anything but peaceful, he was an opportunist a crook and a bandit. He received what he deserved while "peacefully driving in his Dodge touring car"

Zapata was the hero of the revolution-- Not Villa--please study your Mexican history!

And yes there are probably some on this board who have a relationship with Mormons and the events of the Mexican Revolution.

dm

Photos

tehag - 12-20-2006 at 07:44 AM

In one photo there is what looks like a sprawling adobe ruin. Do you know what it is/was?

Mexitron - 12-20-2006 at 08:23 AM

Thanks for the photos--now that I'm living in Texas, Chihuahua may become my new Baja experience...hard to compete with the Pacific Ocean though...

very

pacificobob - 12-20-2006 at 08:35 AM

cool photos...a good reminder of how very different the baja is from the rest of mexico. i often think that baja is to mexico what alaska is to the united states...isolated, end of the road...with higher paying jobs, and a higher cost of living.... of the same country but different in many ways. isuspect many nomads have not seen most of mexico....and would really enjoy the experience

[Edited on 12-20-2006 by pacificobob]

Paula - 12-20-2006 at 08:45 AM

thank you for the pictures and background, Diane. Is the white building with the white fence the Mormon church? The Victorian brick house photo looks just like Montana!
I hope your knee is healing well, and that you keep the photo essays coming after it is alll better.

DianaT - 12-20-2006 at 09:22 AM

DM

I am sorry if I offended you in any way. The history around Pancho Villa is very controversial, and as I always told my history students, most of what we call history is perspective. My husbands grandfather lived in that area when Pancho attacked that famous train. However, what I find most interesting is the relationship of Pancho to the US govt---not the place to discuss it. Yes, Zapata is far less controversial and was a real hero.

I certainly did not wish to offend anyone with Mormon Connections. Yes, Colonia Dublin is not far from Colonia Juarez, but the influence of Colonia Juarez with the well attended Academy that has been there since 1897 and the Temple that was dedicated in 1999, has a large influence in the area.

It is, IMHO, just interesting to see homes and farms that are built far more like ones in southern Utah than in Mexico, and to see ones being built with the combination of both styles. It is also interesting to see so many blonds, and a community where almost everyone is proficiently bilingual.

Also, I certainly did not intend to smear the name of the Romneys---it just would have been an interesting question if George had won the presidential primarys because more than likely, the fact that he was born outside of the US would have been brought into the campaign---just an interesting question, a neutral question. Actually, I liked George better than Mitt, but that is another issue.

So, I am sorry if I offended you and this is the last comment I want to have on this subject----IMHO, not the place to argue historical perspective. I do respect your perspectives.

Diane

Bob H - 12-20-2006 at 10:10 AM

Nice job on your phtography! I don't know why, but I really like the photo of the discarded engine and tire at the base of the tree. The colors are fantastic!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos!
Bob H

David K - 12-20-2006 at 10:37 AM

GREAT PHOTOS!!

DianaT - 12-20-2006 at 12:14 PM

Quote:

That church is beautiful, looks like Chihuahua right?

Jesse, the one church is the Mormon Temple in Colonia Juaraz and the other is the back of the "lost mission of Satavo near Batopilas. Most pictures show the white front, but the back shows how it was built.

Quote:

In one photo there is what looks like a sprawling adobe ruin. Do you know what it is/was?

Tehag, those are the Paquime ruins at Casas Grandes and there is a GREAT museum right there. Fascinating history--and it was the found broken pieces of pottery that inspired the famous Juan Quezada in developing the pottery in Mata Ortiz.


Quote:

thank you for the pictures and background, Diane. Is the white building with the white fence the Mormon church? The Victorian brick house photo looks just like Montana!


Paula, yes it is a Mormom Temple. Many of the homes in that area look like they belong in the US---it is the influence from the thriving Mormon and Mennonite Communities----it really is a diverse area which is one of things that makes it fascinating. In one of the pictures, it shows the combining of the styles----adobe bricks with a pitch roof---that one is in Mata Ortiz.


Quote:

Thanks for the photos--now that I'm living in Texas, Chihuahua may become my new Baja experience...hard to compete with the Pacific Ocean though...


Mexitron, OK, no ocean, but a fasinating place to explore.


Quote:

isuspect many nomads have not seen most of mexico....and would really enjoy the experience


Pacificobob---Mexico is such a diverse country, and while in the major tourist areas and bigger cities, the golden arches have arrived, one of the great things is the different food in every part of Mexico. We have eaten our way through every state in Mexico. :yes: You would enjoy it.

Quote:

Nice job on your phtography! I don't know why, but I really like the photo of the discarded engine and tire at the base of the tree. The colors are fantastic!


Bob, thank you. I like that one also and my DH does not. It was especially meaningful because Batopilas is one of the cleanest towns you have ever seen and there is a big fine for littering and this was right across from the main plaza.

Quote:

THANKS for the nice Photos!!How is your Knee (? I think that was your Knee that had to be fixed?) doing? Healing good?


Thanks for asking---yes it is my knee. Now I am getting different opinions and instructions from the doctor and from the physical therapist---crazy making, but it is doing well.

David, you love the back country in Baja, and you would love the back country in Chihuahua!

Diane

Historical perspectives

Skipjack Joe - 12-20-2006 at 12:39 PM

The discussion of Pancho Villa and how the two countries view him reminds me of Che Guevara. I had never paid much attention to the name until my travels in South America. He is highly revered over there by the majority of people I met. Almost a saint. And eventually a martyr. The American perspective of the man is vastly different.

But we don't even have to go back that far. There's General Pinochet and how history will record his actions.

Great pictures Diane. I really enjoyed them. I just realized something. These mexican travels must be far more meaningful to someone with a background in history.

Aieeeeyy chihuahua!!

[Edited on 12-20-2006 by Skipjack Joe]