Mystery and Romance steeped in history
Malinalco church
Article by Walt (Sept. 2008).
Photos by Zihrena. All rights reserved.
Malinalco? When I heard the name I wasn’t sure that this town could spark much interest but was I ever mistaken! The name itself now stirs in me a sense of mystery and romance steeped in history and a setting of natural wonders in green forests and hills.
The origins of the name and the town (or pueblo) are worthy source material for any modern day storyteller or poet. The name is derived from the Náhuatl language’s Malinalli which itself translates as “place where the flower of marijuana is adored“. However, we are entering now into the realm of mythology which is outside of the scope of this article. For the anthropologist and archaeologist in you, this pueblo and its surroundings are a fertile field for investigation.
Malinalco’s history has left some very notable landmarks that form attractions unique to this pueblo. Chief among the historical attractions, and dating back to about 1502, is Cerro de los Idolos (Hill of the Idols), west of the pueblo where there were and are several temples. The main temple was carved by slave labour into the rocky mountain top with tools made of obsidian and is where warriors were initiated into the Eagle and Jaguar orders. The location of that temple is awesome in itself when you pause to reflect on what it would take to accomplish the task with even our modern day tools. In the world, this is only one five places with that type of monolithic temple carved into a mountain.
Another attraction very worthy of mention is the Monastary of the Divino Salvador de Malinalco (Divine Saviour of Malinalco). After the Spanish Conquest, Malinalco continued even then to be an important religious place. In the cornice of the chapel one can study the Malinalco hieroglyphics and the shield of the founding Augustinian order. These combine to act as silent witnesses to the Mexica and Christian cultures. For the lover of art, the chapel and convent display magnificent frescoes. Ironically, also, the Monastery was built, in part anyway, with stones taken from Cerro de los Idolos.
Malinalco, State of Mexico
This pueblo of about 22,000 (per the 2000 census) sports cobble stone streets, a beautiful zócalo, hotels, small stores, artisan shops, beautiful restaurants (try the local fish dishes) and a gamut of brightly coloured houses that add much charm to Malinalco. Visit the colourful market on Saturday. The quaintness of Malinalco is further punctuated by the sight of donkeys and horses carrying their burdens. For the golfer, there is a golf course at hand.
There is a community organization called the Corner Project of Malinalco. This is worthy of mentioning considering the bad press that has been given to illegal migrants in the U.S. The Project works at addressing the need for self-support of those facing financial crises. It does this through income-generating programs that aim at domestic and export markets thus eventually eliminating the need to find employment elsewhere. For more information on the Project, please go to http://www.elrincon.org/english/index.html
Where is this charming town? It is about 80 miles or 125 kilometres southwest of Mexico City and it may be best to board a bus from Terminal Poniente in Mexico City since the drive is not an easy one. Its charm stems from the cultural traditions it enjoys and its location among the natural wonders that abound as well as for the prominent role it played when the Mexica ruled the land.
Malinalco’s location is due to the historical fact that it is situated on the main route from what is now Mexico City to Acapulco. That dates back to before the arrival of the white man when the Mexica* ruled and Mexico City was then called Tenochtitlan*. The route was used to transport goods paid in tribute by conquered neighbouring peoples to the Mexica on the backs of tamemes or bearers. Malinalco also has mild climate allowing it to be enjoyed throughout the year.
*Mexica/Tenochtitlan: for a website that that defines these names, please go to http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/AZTECS.HTM
The proprietor of My 1 Home Away From Home, Walt, is a Canadian who has reached the age when retirement has become a possibility. Since he was born in a country with an equatorial climate (Indonesia on the island of Java) Walt wants to live out his years in a fairly similar setting and Cuernavaca amazingly offers that though its climate is, in comparison, temperate. Having travelled to Mexico a number of times as a tourist, from Mexico City to the Pacific, Walt fell in love with the region, its people, history, geography and climate. Walt hopes that you may have similar interests and invites you to join him in the vacation club introduced and described on his website.
Originally posted 2008-09-20 14:53:13.
