Posted by David Dagoli on March 6, 2016, 3:40 pm 189.164.110.132
We were at John and Diane's house last night, and he showed me a photo he had of the hill above downtown La Manzanilla, taken (I believe) in 1991. He took a picture of the print and sent it to me.
I thought it would be interesting to take another photo today from the same location, and show them together.
Unfortunately, I couldn't match it exactly, as the umbrellas and trees at Tito's restaurant obscure too much of the view.
However, I got as close as I could to the original vantage point. And I also went up to the second floor of La Playa Restaurant and took a second photo.
Interesting to note how dry, brown and treeless the hills were in the original photo from 1991.
In the centre bottom of the old photo is 'Juani's Rentals', which is still there today. To the left of Juani's was a restaurant, which is now part of the Hotel Tonala. The bluish coloured building on the upper right is what is known as the 'Cementos'. The beginnings of John and Diane's house is at the centre top, and to the left of that is the property that Rusty and Julie would eventually build their house on.
Just a minor correction. The old photo was taken in February of 1997. Our house is known as the Casa de Los Primos and is shared between my sister and her husband (Sue and Glenn) and my cousin and his wife (Frank and Jan).
I remember being hugely impressed by this same photo one night at Casa de los Primos. I love the comparison shots. This really makes me want to do a film on La Manznila before all the people who were around then are gone. I dropped my idea because I was told that someone else is doing that project. I sure hope that's true!
Miriam Henze is doing interviews with some of the elder's of La Manzanilla. I thought I read it on the message board but couldn't find the exact reference.
I have some Hi 8 video I shot in 93, one I remember was driving slowly through town and all the way out to Campo. I also have a new (expensive) Hi8 editor, but have never had the time / interest in editing it down to something worth showing.
Its on my you tube channel, if I can remember what it is.
Used Google - street sweeper la Manzanilla - and found them, there are 3, all about the same. You can hear the chain skipping. Haven't seen it back since.
Somehow, there is a part of me that says it would have all been ok to have stayed like it was. Either that, or a big old gentlemen's club with a package liquor store next to it. Either way.
Thanks for the reflective look. Just does not seem that long ago. Really cool.
on March 6, 2016, 3:40 pm
