Procession of Silence

On the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the Procession of Silence, many blocks long, wound its solemn way through Pátzcuaro streets from the Templo de San Francisco to Plaza de la Basílica. The periodic single beat of a drum paced the deliberate walkers and from time to time the short, mournful wail of a trumpet pierced the evening air.

The participants made ready to start their march in the courtyard of the Templo de San Francisco.

The disquieting hooded figures are called the Hermanos Encapuchados (the Hooded Brothers). Lay men of the community are inducted into this group.

Viernes Santo

The main procession for Good Friday in Pátzcuaro was listed for 7:00 PM in the printed schedule of events, if one consults such things. Of course I knew that it would take place on Pátzcuaro time, not clock time. Even so, it was close to 8:00 pm before the solemn participants started trailing down from Plaza La Basílica toward Siete Esquinas. I wanted a good viewing point and, along with many other spectators, felt I had been sitting a very long time on the very hard curbside. Ouch. At that point I stood up, no longer needing to guard my little space to sit hip-to-hip.

The skies were a little cloudy and the sun very low, so the day had soon progressed well past twilight into night.

		Viernes Santo 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Good Friday in Pátzcuaro

Stations of the Cross (Way of Sorrows, Via Dolorosa or Via Crucis ) refers to the depiction of the final hours (the Passion) of Jesus and to the devotion commemorating the Passion. In Pátzcuaro residents of many different neighborhoods enacted living tableaux. The principal representation of the Via Crucis is the large, solemn procession through the pueblo.

At Calle Esperanza & Romero

Living persons are on the crosses.

Folk Art & Wares

Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, aka Plaza Grande, is full of color, crafts and wares in the Tianguis set up for Semana Santa. People from all over Mexico as well as from other countries enjoy perusing and purchasing items from the various booths. The restaurants all over Patzcuaro are full of people talking, laughing and eating.

Our Lady of Sorrows

Yesterday Friday of Sorrows ushered in Semana Santa, the Holy Week preceding Easter, with a focus on Our Lady of Sorrows. Over the past week Patzcuarenses were busy preparing altars venerating this manifestation of the Virgin Mary. One can see that the faithful suffer strong mental and emotional anguish, to them real and part of their living present,  as they condole with the grief of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores for the pending crucifixion of her Son. This is a time of dolorous observance.

Rest in Peace – Que en Paz Descanse

Mexicans mock death with the unique catrinas, skulls and skeletons so often featured in folk art. These tombstones make a good complement.

(Photographer  unknown)

Live and play in Patzcuaro.

Hiking Cerro Burro

Another good place to hike is Cerro Burro, not far from Pátzcuaro. The steep road will give you a work-out and the views are beautiful.

Hiking Cerro Blanco

Setting out on the east side of Pátzcuaro through a residential neighborhood, many locals like to hike and run on Cerro Blanco. This good hike offers easy access and one can make it long or short.

Hiking Estribo Grande’s Skirt

For this outing, we hiked the falda on the north side of Estribo Grande, which overlooks Lake Pátzcuaro. The trail is not as steep as when we ascend to the two volcano craters, but this is still a hike at fairly high elevation. We start out at 7200 feet in Pátzcuaro.

Enjoy Patzcuaro.
Patzcuareando

Hiking at Lake Zirahuén

We also like to hike around Lake Zirahuén, a distance of some twenty kilometers. Plan about four hours to take some time to enjoy the beautiful setting. We finished up by eating good quesadillas--the flor de calabaza (squash blossom) and cheese quesadillas I found particularly tasty.