Paquime Ruins

We started out the day visiting the ancient Paquime ruins in Casa Grandes. It was raining. Luckily, this was the only rain that we had on our whole trip. Paquime was a pre–Hispanic settlement in western Chihuahua and in parts of the Mexican state of Sonora and the U.S. states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. The ancient city of Paquime was settled around 700 AD and lasted until about 1340 AD. Why the city was abandoned is not known but thought either due to drought or to being attacked and burned by other Indians.

Paquime Ruins

Paquime had a population of about 3,500 and the complex had over 2,000 rooms. Originally, it was a multi–story pueblo. It had both Pueblo Indian and Mesoamerican characteristics and it is believed that it served as a trading post between these two cultures.

Paquime Ruins

Paquime doesn’t look like other ruins in Mexico as it was constructed of adobe.

Paquime Ruins

Paquime also had round ceremonial structures but these were made of rocks.

Museum of Northern Cultures

After walking around the ruins, we visited the Museum of Northern Cultures at the site. Paquime pottery is seen in the photo. This is the pottery that the potters of the town of Mata Ortiz near the site are recreating.

Museum of Northern Cultures

Mata Ortiz pottery was for sale in the museum’s store.

On the Road

On the road from Paquime through desert and farmland. The rain has stopped.

On the Road

View seen from the bus.

Mennonite Country

The Mennonites came to this part of Mexico in the 1920s from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada. Canada had passed a law not allowing the Mennonites to have their own schools. They looked for a new place to live and farm and choose Chihuahua, Mexico, after receiving land, relief from taxes for 50 years, and assurances against having to serve in the military and permission to have their own schools. Mexico wanted their farming know–how and development. Their land holdings today are extensive.

Mennonite Country

A Mennonite farm.

Mennonite Country

The Mennonites raise cattle along with the farming of crops. They are also in the business of attending auctions of farm equipment in the U.S. and then selling it in Mexico.

Mexican Village

In places in Mennonite country are small Mexican villages. The women in this photo are indigenous.

Mennonite Lunch

We had lunch served to us at a Mennonite home.

Mennonite Lunch

The photo shows one of the dishes we were served for lunch: cheese empanadas. They were tasty when their home–made apricot jam was put on them. We also had cheese, sausages, soup, and rolls.

Young Mennonite Woman

This young Mennonite woman served our lunch. The Mennonite women dress in plain clothes.

Garden

The Mennonite house’s vegetable garden.

Mennonite House

Some of the Mennonite houses are quite large as some of the Mennonites are quite well to do. The houses have plain colors and only grass and trees in front.

On the Road

We went past some pretty countryside from the Mennonite country to our final destination of Copper Canyon.

San Juanito

We passed through the town of San Juanito, a lumber town.

Sierra Bonita

Next, we drove through Sierra Bonita, another lumber town.

Wildflowers

The fields of yellow wildflowers after Sierra Bonita were beautiful. We were in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains.

Copper Canyon

And finally a view of Copper Canyon and our overnight stop for two nights.

I have put my photos of our trip from Nuevo Casas Grandes to Copper Canyon on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/day–3–nuevo–casas–grande–to–copper–canyon/ (Slide Shows, Central America, Mexico, Copper Canyon Tour, “Nuevo Casas Grande to Copper Canyon”).