Collapsed hotel
Terremoto – earth in motion. On October 9, 1995, an earthquake of about 7.6 struck the area about 15 kms. east of Manzanillo, very close to the little town of Melaque, one of my favourite vacation spots. In the previous post I showed a photo of how construction workers used wooden poles to prop up the ceilings until the cement dried. Apparently they should be putting more re-bar into the constructions as the cement structures caved in rather badly during the 1995 earthquake, one of the worst of the past century. These photos are of the remains of one of the grandest hotels on the Melaque beach. As I looked at the collapsed ceilings and floors, I wondered about the people who might have been staying there at the time. If a huge building like this collapsed, I wonder how many other buildings and homes around the area fared. I’ve read that 40 lives were lost that day, and about 100 people were injured. For more on this earthquake, read about it and see photos here.
Luxury hotel in ruins
Bungalows
Right across the street from the collapsed Casa Grande Resort, were relatively new bungalows where we stayed for several weeks. Looking across the street at the destruction of the Casa Grande, where only the pigeons lived now, strutting in and out of open windows, roosting on the rusted out air conditioners hanging there by a few wires, I wondered how we would fare in the new building if another earthquake struck. I would want to have a suite with a balcony and not have to rely on escape through the wrought iron gate which would surely be buckled and stuck in place.
Our bungalows were lovely though, and only a two-minute walk from the beach. Sure, we sometimes had to pick our way around fishing nets spread out on the sand, but that only added to the beauty of the place.
A short walk to the beach
Beach at Melaque
I see the shadow of an amateur photographer in the bottom of this photo! Live and learn.
Melaque has bounced back from the 1995 disaster. The collapsed hotel is still in ruins and, to my knowledge, no restoration work has been done on it. I’m told it is now in a land dispute situation. The rest of Melaque and the other towns that surround the bay are alive with tourists as usual.
Where do you vacation now Anneli?
I’ve been going to Rincon de Guayabitos, north of Puerto Vallarta, but a fall holiday to Montana has also been a great destination.
I love Mexico and Montana!
Yes, me too. Great photo material in both places.
Lovely beaches.
I read that those lovely beaches had a 25 foot tidal wave on the earthquake day way back in 1995.
Lovely beaches but earthquakes are such a terrible thing. This is Mexico? If so, I see on tv there are a lot of criminality some places, but tis small place look so cool. I don’t mind fishing nets…
Most of the problem areas are near the borders. I still feel very safe in Mexico. But I don’t go to bars or beaches late at night waving a fistful of money around. If you use common sense, it’s quite safe to go there. And yes, I don’t mind the fishing nets either. That’s real life. It’s healthy. Thanks for visiting, Bente.
Looks so peaceful and calm in photos, yet…
Let’s hope it stays that way. I read that one of the observers said he saw a four foot high wave of earth moving along. I can’t imagine how scary that would be. But this all happened 17 years ago. Another quake could hit at any time, but it seems to have been just fine for a long, long time, so I won’t worry about my holidays in Mexico.
wow, 4 feet, large.
Yes, that would have been scary to see the earth mounded up that high and moving like a wave. And then there was the 25-foot tidal wave. So glad it was all in the past. Only the ruins of the big hotel remain.
What a contrast between photos two and three!
Isn’t it?! Old and new. All it takes is a little shake to change everything. It was a strange feeling to be staying in the new one looking at the ruins.
This is terrible! When we were on Phuket island, Thailand, last year, even to see a police boat that tsunami washed up on a shore on a couple of miles, was scary.
Reality check! Very sobering.
The photos look so peaceful… even the photo with the shadow of the photographer, just seems to make the photo more real… our natural disaster can be so devastating, yet life always seems to return to normal even though the shadows of the disaster remain for years as a testimony to its visit……
I think if these buildings hadn’t been left as they were (because of the land dispute), people would have forgotten all about the earthquake long ago. As it is, tourists walk by and gawk at the ruins and shudder at what it must have been like to go through that shake. Happy to see that you’re back, Rob.
There is always sorrows in the mist of joys but life manages to move on. Like your contrast in photos.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Yes, people are very resilient and keep going. Thanks for your visit, Francine.
Ooooohhh…that had to be kind of a creepy feeling looking at that collapsed building while staying across the street from it! We went to Cancun years ago and they were in the midst of a lot of resort construction….they would place white crosses on the sides of the buildings to pay honor to the construction workers who had fallen to their deaths from the scaffolding. Things weren’t quite up to the safety standards we’re used to.
Things are very different in Mexico when it comes to all sorts of safety rules. I’ve been horrified to see manhole covers off and no barricade of any sort to keep the public from falling in as they walk past it on the sidewalk. A child or a pet could easily disappear into the hole. But it’s not only Mexico. I’ve seen this lack of safety regulation in other countries too. We’re so used to the regulations being in place that it’s shocking to visit places where everything is “at your own risk.” Must be a lot of good things in these countries to make up for it or why would we keep going there?
Exactly right!
What a cozy beach this is!!! I want to be there right now – it’s snowing and bitter cold. Very nice pictures again (must be your camera)?
Yes, it was a very nice beach. Very fishy too. I remember seeing fish about a foot and a half long, swimming around my feet. As long as they aren’t any bigger than that I don’t mind. Nice beach for swimming.Thanks for visiting my blog, Ursula.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time there – your pictures are beautiful!
It’s a great place. Hope to catch some sunny rays again soon.
I’ve never been there and, despite the earthquake, I’d love to visit one day.
I’m sure you’d love it. That quake was 18 years ago. Only the ruins of the hotel remind us of that disaster. Everything else is rebuilt long ago and it’s business as usual.