Tuesday, May 3, 2011

South to Zihuatanejo and Morelia

More photos from our trip south along the Pacific mainland, including a trip into the interior to Morelia and side-trips to butterfly preserve and Patzcuaro.

 Patti had her hair braided in Melaque (close to Barra) with purple and pink beads for 70 pesos We saw the effects of the tsunami from a beach in Zihuatanejo - 10 foot surge in 2 minutes (note high tide line) One of the boys' favorite artists at Zihua Guitar Fest, Bruce McFarlane (from the Bay Area, yet!) 

Zihuatanejo was a very pretty town, we stayed at a great youth hostel there right next to the market.  Downtown was spruced up with a government program a few years ago and looks super, and the town is very mellow.  GuitarFest was great, though a bit disappointing that almost all attendees were gringos like ourselves.

Then we took a bus to the historic town of Morelia in the interior.

Fireworks our first night in Morelia, what a good omen! OK, so they do this every Saturday ;-) ... but it's really all to show off the cathedral and the town's history...... including musicians in period costume! Gorgeous guitars at the folk art showcase Jan brought the boys to a Lucha Libre show, even more farcical and staged in person than on TV Patti getting her first shoeshine in Morelia central square... intriguing statues of historical and legendary characters... Morelia is home to many gorgeous churches,... ... and another statue on a street filled with Christian bookstores. So is that holy water or Tecate in the cooler?

Now we head off to the famous monarch butterfly preserve, a 3-hour drive away in Michoacan province.

 

Storm clouds in Michoacan highlands were not promising for butterflies that only move when warm and dry...       One of Valencio's many bird photos with his new camera   Roadside fruit stand on way to butterfly preserve Everywhere in Mexico, new construction and laundry On the trail at 3000+ meters (10,500 feet) - will this rain and snow ever stop? Clusters are just warming and waking after the storm and cold - started off brown, now turning bright orangeTino catches his first sun-warmed Monarch. Can you tell whether it's a make or female? We can! Masses of Monarchs sunbathingThe sun is finally out and they're landing all over us!  Patti communing with a female Mariposa We can finally take off our plastic bags and enjoy the transformation! Our guide Carlos taught us to pick butterflies off the ground and place them on bushes so the mice don't get them ... and they loved him for it! Lunch after our pilgrimmage was so satisfying!

Now for the side trip to Patzcuaro

Patzcuaro is a beautiful town with much history... one of many images in a place that cries out for painting and photographyMaking a tablecloth on an old loom catches Tino's attentionArt is where you find itAn exotic duck among the invasive water liliesThe tour boat to Janitzio islandBesides the huge statue, Janitzio is famous for its Day of Dead celebrations Treats on the long climb to the Morelos monument Fishermen on Lake PatzcuaroMexican folk art on the main road in Patzcuaro They might look great in our yard, but how do we fit them on the boat?

We then went back to Zihuat where we met the previous owners – next post.

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1 comment:

  1. SusieMay 7, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    Patti - Keep the braided hair! You look FABULOUS!

    HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY !

    As to these great ceramic pieces... can one or two be shipped?

    Love, Susie

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