Pátzcuaro is Special

An inveterate traveler posted this on a message board that I happened upon:

Typical architecture in Patzcuaro. All buildings must be painted white with with dark red bases. The lettering must all be of the same style and painted red, black and white. All of the lanterns lining the streets are identical.

To me, Patzcuaro is a VERY SPECIAL, enchanting place. When you enter the city, you can imagine that you’ve gone back 200 years in time. Of course, there are automobiles, electricity, and other modern conveniences, but the basic aura of the city is timeless. It exudes feelings of a simpler time when people spent time together and engaged in ages old occupations ~ farming, fishing, weaving, and hand-crafting items for use in every day life. I’ve NEVER seen any city that has a bulk SEED STORE located on their main plaza. Apparently it’s been there forever and ever, and has been run by the same man for generations. In Patzcuaro, you still see MANY Tarascan people in their traditional clothing out and about.

Patzcuaro is a place we WILL return to ~ hopefully over and over again…

Post by JoanieBlon of maison-t-bayou.com/ to www.zihuatanejo-ixtapa.com.mx/wwwboard/messages/181505.html

A place in Patzcuaro for you.

Drive Pátzcuaro to Nuevo Laredo

There has been interest expressed in some specifics for the drive from Pátzcuaro to the border at Nuevo Laredo, using the bypass on the West side of Querétaro. Your mileage may vary from mileage given here, depending on the route taken through Morelia.

000.0 mi – Tanganxuan Glorieta in front of Aurrera, Pátzcuaro

Drive through Morelia and take cuota to Salamanca

104.1 mi – At Salamanca, take cuota toward Querétaro
N 20˚35.318” W 101˚08.311” (approx. coordinates)

149.0 mi – Right hand exit to Santa Rosa Jauregui/San Luís Potosí and to Mex #57
N 20˚ 34.248” W 100˚ 29.026”

Follow signs Sta Rosa Jauregui / San Luis Potosi toward Mex #57

165.4 mi – Do NOT exit at Santa Rosa Jauregui

166.4 mi – Follow sign to San Luís Potosí

167.0 mi – Join Mex #57 North

279.0 mi – El Potosino Parador Turístico

Bypass San Luís Potosí

Go into Matehuala (there is an option to bypass)

398.7 mi – Las Palmas Restaurant and Hotel, Matehuala

465.0 mi – San Pedro Parador Turístico
N 24˚ 29.738” W 100˚ 17.693

524.6 mi – Monterrey-Saltillo > Cuota
N 25˚ 10.501” W 100˚ 43.727

546.0 mi – Saltillo bypass, right exit
N 25˚ 26.070” W 100˚ 48.287”

559.5 mi – Take right exit > Saltillo-Monterrey
N 25˚ 35.108” W 100˚ 52.755”

563.2 mi – Exit again right > Morones Prieto (via new cuota)
N 25˚ 36.825” W 100˚ 50.171

581.0 mi – Exit right > Nvo Laredo Cuota Mex #40
N 25˚ 41.786” W 100˚ 34.655”

606.mi – Go left/North > Nvo Laredo Mex #85 via cuota
N 25˚ 50.880” W 100˚ 14.882”

609.5 mi – At this Y stay on cuota

656.0 mi – El Rancho Parador Turístico, hotel and restaurant, Cuota Km 99
N 26˚ 30.119” W 100˚ 00.703

718.4 mi. – Alternate border crossing: Exit to Colombia Bridge (at approx. km 207 of Cuota)

Arriving in Nvo Laredo, follow signs to Zona Centro & Puente I

730.6 mi – At the Y, go left.
N 27˚ 27.087” W 099˚ 31.084”

Follow this curving road around. You will pass a turn-off to left where car permits are processed.

734.0 mi – Nvo Laredo Puente I into the U.S.
N 27˚ 29.873” W 099˚ 30.479”

Noche de Muertos 2010–#11

Pilgrimage on Horseback

On November 1, 50 riders set out from Morelia on horseback to make a pilgrimage to Pátzcuaro. Every year the pilgrimage keeps gathering riders from pueblos along the way, until they finally number from 600 to 1,000 on arrival at the Plaza de la Basílica. This massive procession on horseback pays homage to Nuestra Señora de la Salud, who is venerated at the Pátzcuaro Basílica.

The ride started in the dark at 5:00 AM and the caballeros and caballeras starting arriving in streams at 5:00 PM at the Plaza. In the fading light, the earthy smell of the horses permeated the air, while the occasional clatter of restless hooves, the snorts of horses pulling at their tethers and their nickers punctuated the burble of satisfied conversations.

This year no horses were permitted to enter the small courtyard area adjacent to the Basílica or the edifice itself because of restored paving and flooring. Mass was held to the jingle of spurs as those who were standing occasionally shifted their weight from foot to foot.

		Cabalgata Morelia-Pátzcuaro 2010 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

See a series of posts on Night of the Dead in Patzcuaro.
Patzcuaro bound?

Noche de Muertos 2010 – #10

A Walk through the Tianguis

Here is just a sampling of the folk art and craft ware on display on the the Plaza Grande today.

		Patzcuaro Tianguis–Noche de Muertos VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Folk Art & Crafts
Live 2 blocks away