travel north america mexico sinaloa copala around the village
We travelled about two hours east of Mazatlan to visit Copala, an old colonial mining town in the Sierra Madres.
It was a week day when we visited, but we saw only about 10 residents in the whole town, 4 or 5 were school boys selling wood carvings.
The main streets are paved in sturdy uneven cobble stone and most of the buildings have been recently painted.
I enjoyed this "step back in history" very much.
Travel:
March 2017
unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
Copala's main square with San Jose de Copala in the background, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Wall mural next to the square, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
The stone house on the left was the head honcho's way back in history, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Street scene, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Street scene, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Street scene, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Mother with boy in school uniform on side street, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Bench, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Playground, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Stone wall detail, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
School boys selling cottonwood bark carvings, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
We were told the children carved the pieces themselves and only the ones with the best grades were allowed to sell them to visitors.
Although we were told the local artisan taught the children how to carve, the artist's hand work looked the same on all of them.
Cottonwood bark carving, $2.00, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
Old cemetery, "Panteon No3 Copala," Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
These policemen with machine guns accompanied us all day on our tour, Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, 2017.
We were told that the cruise lines refused to come to Mazatlan for five years because of the cartels fighting for power in the area.
The cruise lines agreed to come back to Mazatlan if the government would provide this security for its guests.
copyright d holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised april 2017