SHOPPING IN PATZCUARO

We've been to Patzcuaro so many times now I'm running out of post titles.

Since we did more shopping the last few days then on any trip here that's what I went with.

With a few extra pesos in our pockets and not knowing when we'll be in Mexico again - we decided to seek out a few mementos for ourselves.

If there is a place to do that it's Patzcuaro. In the relatively small area of el centro there are plenty of shops and markets to get your fill.

Even though we were up early on Sunday and drove for four hours - we will still ready to head downtown in the afternoon.

In all we were in el centro Sunday afternoon, all day Monday and Tuesday morning. Rather than posting separately all the photos are below. Lots to see!

Since we took the combi this time rather than walk we entered el centro in a different spot. We saw an entry into a hotel and thought we'd check it out. Derek saw a price of 880 pesos - so that's around $73 for a room. 

While walking around looking at all of the shops and street sellers Cassia spied another horse.

We then headed over to the Basilica area.

I had read that there were artisans there. We were excited to find it as this was our first time in this area of el centro.

Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud.

We love the streets of Patzcuaro - all are painted these colours.

Being Sunday - Plaza Vasco de Quiroga was very busy.

For dinner we went to our favourite taco stand at the central market. Love that they come with roasted potatoes and onion.

After that we returned home with the combi arriving around 6:00 pm. 

Just as we were leaving Monday morning to go back downtown I took this picture in our RV Park. It's like spring here with all of the blossoms.

Cassia heading to the orange tree.

Monday we stopped in at the Patzcuaro Public Library.

Barb from El Manglar has told me about the mural by Juan O'Gorman that we hadn't seen yet.

It's pretty amazing and traces the history of Michoacan from the Purhepecha creation story to the Revolution.

Then we hit a few of the more expensive shops. Nice to look.

With a lottery winning and a moving truck we could have done some serious damage!

Then back to the Basilica market for a sweater for Derek. He bought one but not from here. Actually at the stall he found a few he liked they actually went home to get more for him to look at. 

We also found a mask near by that we liked. Again - the one that we found was unpainted. We returned later and the carver had gone home to paint it for us.

We got the coyote or wolf in red. 

Cassia with one of her selections.

Later, returning to the main plaza, we rested from all the shopping with coffees, an italian soda and two pieces of cheesecake.

Derek's new sweater and scarf! He did well. Looking pretty hip now…..

Cassia got a few things along the way also. I too picked up a scarf.

Looking down at Derek and Cas at the House of 11 Patios. 

For lunch we were seeking Tortas - we found them at the central market.

Amazing sandwiches! I had the Milanesa….

and Derek the Cubana - we were more than full for 50 pesos!

On the way home from the Bodega we passed this new building and the dog keeping watch.

This morning we went back to el centro for a few hours. I had fallen in love with a necklace in a shop window yesterday and we thought to go and see it today. Sadly the shop wasn't open even close to lunch and the storekeeper next door said it doesn't open. 

While waiting we had coffee at the main Plaza. Here's Cassia with her Mexican Hot Chocolate. What a change going from beach temperatures to mountain weather. It even looked like snow was falling today. The forecast for today in Patzcuaro was for 15C with a low tonight of 4C. Brrrrr…..

At the shop next door I went to admire the work of Javier Servin that Barb had told me about. I was tempted but decided to pass on purchasing a piece. I'll save that for next time. 

We were home by noon as Derek wasn't feeling well and we had done as much as we could in the three days. 

Cas and I visited the little shop around the corner from us here at the RV Park this afternoon so that she could get a few lollipops for our trip north to the border. 

Which starts in earnest tomorrow morning.

From here we will drive full days with arrival into the USA anticipated for Friday. 

Because we don't' have a telcel stick this year you won't be hearing from us until we get there. We'll post on Facebook as soon as we can and have a post up of our trip within the first few days. Our first stop will be grocery shopping in Eagle Pass before we head west along the 277 and 90.

Fingers crossed that all goes well!

See you in Texas y'all!

If you want to see more of Patzcuaro - visit the posts from our 10 day stay which starts here and our  5 day stay last November which starts here.

Teresa

THE ROAD TO PATZCUARO

Well, really it's two roads - the 200 and 37D - but for us - today's road would be taking us north and up to Patzcuaro.

We left early Sunday morning to beat the traffic build up in Zihuatanejo. It's not a particularly large city (around 100,000) but since we haven't driven through it many times - and in fact haven't been driving for 2 1/2 months - we wanted a nice clean exit.

Sunday morning we were up before the sun. My thought was to be on the road by 7:00 am - but things always take a bit longer than planned - right?!

So - it was 8:00 am by the time we pulled through the El Manglar gates.

It looks a bit sad here now with three of us RVs leaving in the last week,  but it's been a great home for the last few months. 

Throughout the time that we have been at Playa La Ropa - the main road has been under construction. Everyone must take the detour which did cause some problems for the larger RVs. Glad in this case that we are small and made it through without a hitch.

The last stop light on the outskirts of Zihuatanejo.

The 200 north is nice along this route.

On the way down there was quite a few gravel spots. Nice to see that they have all been paved over the last few months. 

No pictures again until we are on the 37D - toll road - headed north.

Not much else to say - take a look at the route. To see it on the way down you can go here from 2012 or here from last November.

Nothing too special about this picture except that we were noting that the bus is very tall. One of the slowest bus drivers we have come across.

Sugar cane is our guess.

From Zihuatanejo to Patzcuaro we climb 7,000 ft! Although we love the beach - we truly love to be in pine country.

Here, we've just passed through our third casita - toll booth - on either side of the highway is a truck/rest stop.

Nice to be back in an agriculture zone. Not sure what these are though.

Growing right up on the hills - avocado I think.

The last 50 kms or so are pretty steep. Not a surprise since we came the other way in November … but a lot less fun. The van is very slow up such a steep climb. But lets remember here that we made it - with our last fuel pump we would have been parked on the side of the road by this time. Good that we can ride on the shoulder.

There are three ways into Patzcuaro. We take the first exit to get in the 'back way'.  

It's a good free (libre) road - just watch the sides - there are a few places with a nasty drop off.

We took this route two years ago. I still remember when we saw the Isla de Janitizo for the first time. 

Thankfully it is super easy to get to Villa Patzcuaro Hotel and RV Park - plus they have good signage.

It's like coming home….

Our usual spot.

The trip took us 4 hours - we arrived at Villa Patzcuaro Hotel and RV Park around noon. The steep ending slowed us down a bit but looking back it took us the same time from Patzcuaro to Zihuatanejo.

The 200 is a free road but the 37D has a toll - we passed through four casitas with a total cost of 220 pesos (around $18 CAN). 

After lunch and a bit of a rest we headed to El Centro. All the combi taking in Zihautanejo gave us the confidence to seek out the combi here - which we found at the Bodega store near us. We usually walk in but it takes about 20 minutes and then we still need to walk around the town. 

This morning we returned and spent the entire day there! 

All those pictures next post.

Our plan was to stay two nights but we are going to add a third. It's as hard to leave here as it was the beach.

Teresa