Our first stop was at a shop that sells metal art, large chunky furniture and a multitude of Mexican pottery and handicrafts. Many times we had passed this place on our way to Colima, having been attracted to the whimsical metal sculptures of dinosaurs, crabs, horses and cacti. Turns out that a family owns the establishment - the father creates and builds the sculptures and the sons and daughters create various other pieces of art. The 'General' on horseback and the skeleton damsel particularly caught my eye. 
Taking a left at a Pemex station and skirting around the west of Colima, soon we are on the road to Comala. Just before entering Comala we turn onto a cobblestone road lined with huge trees with peeling red bark, resembling the arbutus trees that grow in the Pacific Northwest. It's quite jungle-ly along that road - me gusta! In no time we pull into the square of the Hacienda de Nogueras, one of my favourite spots in Mexico. Click on this link to read all about it: http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/460-la-hacienda-de-nogueras. 
I love everything about this place - the beautiful hacienda with furniture decorated by and paintings by Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo, the restored buildings, the wonderful eco-garden with plant specimens of all kinds of Mexican flora. Rangel's collection of pre-Hispanic art is priceless. Considering the pieces are over 2000 years old, the craftsmanship, subject matter, styling, and condition of the pieces are phenomenal. The gallery of Rangel's paintings is also stunning. I've visited this plantation four times now and will return for many more visits. It's a delightful place.
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/442-alejandro-rangel-hidalgo-universal-artist-from-colima
Winding our way back the cobblestone streets, we drive a little way into Comala, park near the town square and head towards the mariachi music that fills the air. One of the cool things about Comala is that at the restaurants that line the west side of the square, if you purchase a drink - usually a cerveza o dos - the food is free. Plates of tacos, ceviche, flautas, and other local dishes get dropped off at the table as you drink. Granted the cerveza is more expensive at these spots but it's fun and the atmosphere is wild. Mariachi bands compete for audio space. At times, we have seen six of more bands wandering around the square - each group in colourful matching pantalons and jackets. It's quite a show, not to mention a concaphony of sound. To add to the mayhem, vendors selling multi-hued jewelery, toys, trinkets and pirated DVDs wander between the tables, looking for potential 'clients'. If that's not enough, there are shops surrounding the square that sell even more souvenirs or ponche - the local liqueur of many flavours. Weary, after a full day of sight-seeing, drinking and eating, Meg points Jann de Vann back to the sun setting in the west, to return us safely back to our humble village by the sea.
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