Popocatépetl

29 February 2024

Ashes Ashes

It’s saying a lot – but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a worse time for volcanic ash.

volcanic ash on the windshield — *Volcanic ash on the windshield*

Living near an active volcano as we do, we’re not strangers to having volcanic ash around (in fact, you may remember that I mentioned it here). But over the last couple of days it’s been quite the topic of conversation.

The news this week was that the spewing of the volcano was interrupting flights from central Mexico. I checked a couple of news reports that explained that the volcano had had “13 exhalations” (which is pretty much what it sounds like – spews of gas or ash) in one day. Well, today it’s 148 exhalations so far. Quite high – though it’s certainly been higher other days this month.

Anyway, whatever the reason may be, I’m feeling ash as I type on my keyboard here. You can wipe a surface in the house and come back a little later to wipe it again. It gets into everything – very fine, it hangs in the air like a mist. People are out sweeping the street in front of their houses – Shari included. Our neighbour was cleaning out the nooks and crannies in his car – even in the engine. And sweeping it up does help to keep sewers from getting clogged.

But you must admit, it does feel a little useless when you can come out and see the grey-black dust everywhere that you just swept!

The good news is that the wind seems to be blowing the plume in the opposite direction for the moment (apologies to our friends in Puebla!), and it doesn’t seem to be smoking too much at the moment. But you can check it for yourself right here (webcam). And in case you’re interested, a few years ago I posted the local recommendations of what to do in case of ash.

16 March 2013

Snowy Sunrise

Jim Mexico 1

We had quite the snowfall on the mountains as we woke up to a chilly March morning. Here are a few pictures – just click them to view hi-res versions in the photo gallery. There’s often snow on the volcanoes, but not usually like this…

Praise the LORD from the earth …
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! …
Let them praise the name of the LORD!

(Psalm 148)

7 April 2012

Pass

Jim Ministry glimpses, Prayer and Praise 1

Today we went up to the pass between the volcanoes – our family, Rod and Mayra’s family, the MI Team, their host families, and a few other guests. So it was a big group! Here are most of them in front of the active volcano, Popocatépetl:

A good time was had by a… well, ok, I had a bit of a bumpy day personally. Woke up with a crick in my neck. We got out of the house late, and I went to get money out – and got my bank card stuck in a bank machine. Finally got it out and went to another bank machine – where it promptly got stuck. Finally got it out – and had success at the third machine!

But by the time we got to the pass I was feeling pretty sick (migraine attack), so I spent the day in a tin can (what we usually call our van) under the hot sun, with smoke and dust coming in every crack, and crowds streaming around me. They kept bumping the van because it was parked so close to the other vehicles they could hardly get by.

I think the only worse place I’ve been in for a migraine attack was an emergency room. Now that was scary.

Anyway, other than that I think it was a good day for most people. Tomorrow we rise early – very early – for a 6am (Mexican time) sunrise service for Resurrection Sunday!

8 February 2012

Volcano Popocatépetl Appears

Jim Mexico 1

The whole time Brittany the photographer was here, we kept telling her we had these magnificent volcanoes all around us. But the weather being what it was, she kind of had to take our word for it.

Today, however, was a windy day, and the clouds parted and volcanoes started popping out of nowhere.

So I quickly snapped this picture of Popocatépetl, known to the slow-of-tongue as "Popo".

Popo is one of several active volcanoes in central Mexico. The name comes from the Aztec (Nahuatl) for smoking mountain, and it smokes a lot. Perhaps due to the wind there was not a lot of smoke to be seen today, though you can see a puff if you look closely.

Click the image to see higher resolution versions. This is the second-last day of 30 photos posted in 30 days.

30 January 2011

Volcano Snapshots

Jim Devotional and Bible, Mexico 1

It was a clear day yesterday, so, just for fun, I took a few lo-res snapshots of the volcanoes from an upstairs window. Here they are! Which is your favourite?

Volcano snapshot 2

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendour and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose,
the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
(Psa 104:1-13)