Popocatepetl

In this post, I continue with the occasional juxtaposition of images and music inspired by Malcolm Lowry which has been a part of this blog from the beginning!

I recently stumbled upon a source of old postcards of Popocatepetl - one of the volcanoes which dominates Lowry's novel Under The Volcano.

Popocatepetl is an active volcano and, at 5,426 m (17,802 ft), the second highest peak in Mexico after the Pico de Orizaba (5,636 m/18,491 ft). Popocatepetl is linked to the Iztaccihuatl volcano to the north by the high saddle known as the Paso de Cortés, and lies in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt.

The name Popocatepetl comes from the Nahuatl words popōca 'it smokes' and tepētl 'mountain', thus Smoking Mountain; the name Don Goyo comes from the mountain's association in the lore of the region with San Gregorio (St. Gregory), "Goyo" being a nickname-like short form of Gregorio.

Popocatepetl is 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Mexico City, from where it can be seen regularly, depending on atmospheric conditions. The residents of Puebla, a mere 40 km (25 mi) east of the volcano, enjoy the views of the snowy and glacier-clad mountain almost all year long. The volcano is also one of the three tall peaks in Mexico to contain glaciers, the others being Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba. Read more on Wikipedia

Imágenes de México Hugo Brehme 1882 -1945

Here is a wonderful selection of images of Mexico photographed by Hugo Brehme.

Brehme was a major early twentieth century Mexican photographer, who studied his art in his native Germany. Around the turn of the century he began publishing photographs of both Germany and North Africa. Several years later he traveled through parts of South America, Guatemala and Salvador. He first arrived in Mexico in 1905. As early as 1912, Brehme established a studio in Mexico City.

During the following years, Brehme's photographs of Mexico became known worldwide, particularly his black and white and sepia toned postcards and through the publication of his books. His larger and more valuable photographs were sometimes hand tinted in colors and signed by him in pencil. Below is his hand tinted photograph of the volcano Popocatepetl circa 1920.



Hugo Brehme's famous books include, Mexico Pintoresco (1923), Picturesque Mexico (1925) and Pueblos y Paisajes de Mexico (1932).