The Incomparable Sanctuary Of La Manzanilla

Perhaps this should be entitled, "Las Manzanillas", because there is more than one. Manzanilla is a town in Spain with a population of 2,300 inhabitants, La Manzanilla is a fishing village off the coast of Mexico, with slightly fewer inhabitants, 2000. The word, manzanilla, comes from the Spanish word for chamomile, or "little apple". The term may also refer to a variety of fino sherry.

In Mexico, the village occupies the Happy Coast, or Costa Alegre. Situated in the southeast part of the Bay of Tenacatita, the town of Manzanillo lies one hour's drive to the north; from Puerta Vallarta, it is a three-hour drive south. Neighboring villages include Tamarindo, Carayes and Isla Navidad.

The town is well-liked by vacationers from North America, mainly the United States and Canada, who are looking for something other than the crowded tourist experience. It is also popular with holidaymakers from all over Mexico. Most people work in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and as fishermen. There is a nature sanctuary nearby which hosts a colony of roughly 300 crocodiles.

There is a galeria, or gallery, in town which showcases the work of artists from the local, regional and national areas. Different media and styles are represented at regular monthly receptions. Since 2003, the gallery has been operation in collaboration with Mexican and ex-pat artists.

Angela Lopez is one local artist and interior decorator. She will paint on walls, borders and other structural components of peoples' houses and can add a decorative personalized touch to furnishings and clothing. Many of her subjects come from the world of nature, including butterflies, flowers, birds and sea creatures.

Brian Kieling is an extremely versatile artist who displays his work at the Galeria. His work includes vibrantly colored beachscapes, such as "Zen Wave", or "Playa Nagrita", and single-colored paintings of palm trees, for example, "Blue Palm" and "Paradigm". Some of his most fascinating paintings are intricately colored scenes like "Eve" and "Peyote Palms". At the simple end of the complexity spectrum, he makes interesting use of primary colors, as in "Summer Solstice" or "The Artist and His Model".

Manzanilla is also the Spanish word for "little apples", or chamomile, a plant that is used to make an infusion drunk as a tea for its calming effects. It is often served with lemon and/or honey. Although the packaged tea is sold on supermarket shelves, it should be used with caution by people with rag weed allergies, in whom it may cross react to cause an allergic reaction, and in pregnant women, in whom it may induce premature labor and possibly miscarriage.

From Spanish town to Mexican village to a calming tea, La Manzanilla means different things to different people. The village on the coast of Mexico harbors an art gallery. The town is popular with North American tourists looking for a getaway that is off the beaten path but has enough of a tourism infrastructure to cater comfortably with visitors. Chamomile tea is a natural calming agent, but can cause miscarriage if drunk by expectant mothers.