January 9, 2019 - off to Morelia

(Photos soon!)

Breakfast isn’t until 8:00!  We’re planning to leave around 9:00 for our two and a half hour ride to Morelia, the capital of Michuacan. Such a relaxed morning!  Breakfast is orange juice, more fresh papaya and a choice of huevos rancheros or another huge egg dish, such lovely choices!  There is plenty of time to eat and wander out to the van.

Along the way we see an agave farm!  And Juan explains why there are long lines at some of the gas stations.  It has to do with the new president who is trying to control the stealing of gas out of the pipelines!  Apparently there are whole towns devoted to this illegal operation!  Some of the lines we pass are at least one hundred and fifty cars long and all the stations are guarded by federal police. 

Agave farm

White pelicans

The countryside is so beautiful and the small towns are just what you’d expect.  Juan explains to us that Morelia is named for Morelos, one of the two primary Mexican freedom fighters.  We also learn that Michuacan means the land of fishes, because there are so many lakes.  I think it is an Aztec word.

We stop for lunch at a darling little town called Quiroca and eat at The King of the Carnitas, the dish for which this town is famous.  They are just starting to take down their Christmas decorations.  When Ginger and Juan were here last it was all decorated for the Day of the Dead!  There is a lady selling chocolate to make Mexican hot chocolate and Marilyn and I agree to split a package.

Every little stall is selling carnitas!

Next stop Tzintzuntzan to see the ruins, the museum, and the beautiful old church.  You can’t climb on these ruins.  (YAY!)

Next it’s Patzcuaro and a ferry ride across to the island of Janitzio.  At the landing Elizabeth buys some of those little fried fish that Juan says the area is famous for!It’s kind of like a pyramid, in that there are a million steps if you want to see the view from the top!  But the steps are full of switch backs and there are shops all along the way.  There is a huge statue at the top and the young ‘uns climb those additional million, sketchy steps.  They’re already back down from that climb when us old farts make it to the statue’s base!  But we’re all very proud of ourselves, with our various ailments and complaints!  Yay us!!  We’re just in time for sunset and then have to scurry back down all those steps to catch the last ferry!

The boats move through these water lilies with a syphoning system!

One of the paths goes right through this cemetery.

You can climb right up to his fist!

There were two of them and the one I held purred like a sewing machine!

We just make it and get to watch the sunset as we cross the water!  Then it’s an hour’s drive to Morelia and when we arrive the hotel is simply astounding!  The ceiling in our room must be sixteen feet tall!  Talk about opulent!  It’s pretty late but we all go to dinner anyway.  The salads are beautiful and huge! The Mexican cabernet is quite surprisingly good; and the view from the roof top restaurant is jaw-dropping!  The Cathedral de Morelia is right across the street and all light up!  And the quarter moon is right between two of the towers!