FINDING LOST CIVILIZATIONS This

Chapter 7Idols and Godsof CompostelaIt had been a long day and was now nightfall. I had beenfollowing the thread, but wondered if the thread wasweaving itself around me. Should I continue to follow it?Should I break the cycle? Should I simply walk away from it?Something had gotten a hold of me and I was restless.Seven days before my father and I were in Puerto Vallartawalking around the central district and found ourselveson Avenida Libertad. We saw an interesting window displayand walked into the Arte Popular Mexico Galleria. It wasa fascinating art gallery featuring numerous ceramic andclay plates, large sculptures, and small figures of ancientIndian deities, gods, and spirits. Many of them looked likethe antique figures we had seen in the museums of Nayarit,Guadalajara, and Zacatecas. Were they real? Certainly, theylooked real, mysterious,and beautiful.We approached ayoung lady at a deskin the rear of the galleryand asked if theywere antique objects.She smiled and saidno, they were reproductions.But, I feltno disappointment.It is the thought thatcounts and standingin that gallery, I truly felt like I was among ancient antiquities.I remember an art dealer once telling me that afterthirty years of dealing with Chinese antiquities, he had tostop. He said the reproductions were so well done that it becametoo difficult for him to distinguish the difference. As Igazed upon the items around me I was drawn to a large clayfigurehead that was about thirty inches tall. The face wasindigenous and above its head, sweeping up from the backand over the top, was a representation of either a snake or30