Patzcuaro

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Patzcuaro is a small quiet town. It is actually a large town that doesn´t know it yet…We stayed in a lovely RV park on the edge of town. The park was very quiet, except that we arrived at the end of Carnival. There were fireworks going off all day at night. They would start early in the morning and you would still hear them sometimes at 2 or 3 in the morning. We could walk right out of the park and catch a bus to anywhere we needed to go.

We were able to walk over to the docks of Lake Patzcuaro and caught a water taxi to Isla Janitizio. The boat ride was nice; the water looks brown, however that is due to the water being shallow, not polluted. The island is known for a (ugly) 40m high statue of Jose Morelos. You can climb up inside and has an incredible view. However, the climb up to the statue may kill you first. The inside of the tower featured mural depicting Morelos´ life. They were very well done, however with little effort made for preservation, they won´t be that way very long. Once we made our way

to the top, it was way to hazardous for me to climb up into the hand for the final view. You had to climb some very steep, narrow spiral stairs, with no protection to keep you from falling; it was a straight drop of 40m. I decided I wanted to finish the rest of the trip. Ed did it and decided the view wasn´t worth the risk.

The Purepecha people were very warm and open to us in Angahuan that was not the case here. The Island people were celebrating a festival of some sorts this day and we definitely felt like we were intruding. We tried to be as unobtrusive as possible, but 4 large gringos tend to stick out. The purepecha women did not want us to take their pictures either. That had not happened before, but we always ask. Wherever we go, we try to be respectful of their celebrations and daily lives. We are visitors and this is their home.

We wondered into town and visited the Plaza Chica and Plaza Grande. We seem to have a knack for falling into Festivals. They were celebrating Carnival. First in the center of the

Plaza we were able to watch dancers and musicians performing the Baile de los Viejos, the dance of the ancients.

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Photos

Morelia Statue
Isla Janitzio

Wood Carving
On the way to the docks, there were several shops with wonderful woodwork

Purepecha women
These women were doing embroidery on the boat

¨Morelia statue
Over 40m high

Stairs to top of the Island
Otherwise known as¨kneekillers

Stairwell inside of Morelia statue
The life of Morelia is told in murals as you climb the stairs

Murals
The murals were very detailed

Homes
as seen from the top of the hill

Quiroga
Local hero who based his leadership on T. More´s Utopia. Teaching the people to become self sufficient by using thier crafts and skills and escape the dependance on the Spanish.

Gertrudis Bocanegra
Local heroine shot by firing squad in 1818 her support of the revolution movement

Biblioteca Gertruddis Bocanegra
Library

Carnival
The young men dress in drag and there is a bull - really bizarre

Templo de la Segrario
Built in the 16th Century