Paquime: desert cosmopolitan
This photo gives a bit of perspective on the very arid existence that was life in the township of Paquime. Without even the limited benefits provided by other contemporary cliff-dwelling groups in the region (among them the more famous Anasazi) Paquime managed to flourish. Most notable among the advancements here, in my opinion, were the design and construction of canals and cisterns to convey water for domestic and agricultural needs from sources dozens of miles away.
Paquime was one of the many highlights we found in the Mexican State of Chihuahua. Border town reputations not withstanding, we found the people and places in Chihuahua wonderful and well worth the few days we were able to spend there. With its mix of historical sites such as Paquime and cliff-dwellings near Madera, outdoor adventures in the Copper Canyon, and artistic pursuits in Mata Ortiz we had trouble trying to find time for everything.
She had to literally run through the site as we arrived to get ahead of three bus loads of school kids that we're arriving at the same time. We really enjoyed our stops in all of Chihuahua (Casas Grandes, Mata Ortiz, Madera, Creel). The region is rich with culture and natural splendor. Actually we found that almost all of Mexico can be described that way, so don't expect to see it all in one trip.
That's a really amazing photo. Who gets the credit for taking it? Based on some of your other photos I've seen the background is the "ruins" of the buildings that once stood on this site, right? That looks really cool - we'll have to add it to our list of places to see in Mexico.