Butte County Fair goers were able to see a booth with Comala Municipal President Anguiano, his staff and Councilmember Angel Calderon. Photo by the Calderon family

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - On Aug. 23, Gridley Mayor Mike Farr and the Municipal President Sergio Agustin Morales Anguiano, of Comala, Mexico, signed a Sister City Agreement at a special City Council meeting.

About 10 representatives from Mexico were in attendance. Gridley is home to many who hail from Comala. President Anguiano visited here and was so impressed by Gridley and by the fact that both communities are agricultural that he suggested the Sister City Agreement.

The Sister Cities document states in part:

“This proclamation marks a historic and momentous occasion, celebrating the spirit of global cooperation, mutual respect, and shared aspirations for a brighter future.” The agreement aims to promote cultural exchange, tourism and improvement of the quality of life for residents in both cities. Additional goals of the agreement are to promote cultural enrichment, education, and financial prosperity, along with common challenges faced by many communities-- environmental sustainability and urban development. Exchanging ideas and collaborative projects will help achieve these goals.”

Comala is located in the state of Colima, about 31 miles from the west coast of central Mexico. The origin of the name is from the early artisans who made ceramic comales. A comal is a type of skillet used for tortillas. About 42% of Comalans are employed in agriculture growing crops such as corn, tomatoes, sugar cane, coffee and animal feed. Common livestock are cattle, pigs and domestic fowl.

The town has the distinction of being a “Pueblo Mágico” or Magic Town. This title is granted by the Mexican government to cities that offer “cultural richness, historical relevance, cuisine, art crafts and great hospitality.”

There are currently 177 designated towns in Mexico. Comala is the only one in the state of Colima. The honorary status is earned by each community. A Pueblo Mágico committee is formed to be in charge of making the application to the government. Plans are made for developing, generating and maintaining tourism.  Once the title is achieved, the committee makes sure the commitment to develop tourism is kept.

Several travel videos about Comala can be found on YouTube.

The town has quaint cobblestone streets and all the buildings are painted white, which adds to the serenity. The Church of Michael the Archangel, first constructed in 1525, stands in the main plaza. A beautiful fountain and a brightly decorated gazebo are in the foreground.  Mariachi bands can often be found playing there.

Some of Comala’s fame can be attributed to author Juan Rulfo, who wrote a book entitled “Pedro Páramo.” It is the story of a man searching for his father in Comala. The book has been translated into more than 30 languages and is being made into a movie for the second time. A bronze sculpture of Rulfo with a plaque can be seen in the city plaza.

Gridley Mayor Mike Farr, left, and Municipal President Sergio Agustin Morales Anguiano of Comala, Mexico, sign a Sister City Agreement. Photo courtesy of the City of Gridley

Good food is everywhere in Comala. Street vendors offer a variety of traditional foods such as soft tacos. Cafes offer free tapas (appetizers) when ordering drinks. A popular drink is the mildly alcoholic Ponche, in 14 flavors, as well as Leche Caliente (warm milk), which is basically hot chocolate with a splash of alcohol.

Shops catering to tourists offer locally-made ceramics, sarapes and plenty of other tourist fare.

Comala is home to the active Colima volcano, named after the state of Colima. Smoke plumes billow from it frequently. However, this does not deter hikers and even skiers from enjoying it and the surrounding terrain.

Gridley City Council member Angel Calderon will serve as the liaison between the two cities. He is currently getting an opportunity to see Comala’s attractions firsthand, along with Gridley Fire Chief Chip Fowler and his wife.

Gridley residents will look forward to hearing from Calderon and Fowler about this Magic Town.