New Year in Colonial Mexico

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Thursday, 2 January 2003 - Spent day in Patzcuaro exploring the historic colonial town including the main Plaza Vasco de Quiroga and its surrounding plazas, enjoyed breakfast and wandered the small plaza around Plaza Gertrudis Bocanegra took a boat across Lake Patzcuaro to Isla Janitzio to see its monumental statue of Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon and local lakeside life, savored fresh fried fish at the pier, then visited the nearby Tzintzuntzan archaeological ruins overlooking the lake before heading back to town.

Mexico 2003 — Patzuaro was founded in 1324 by King Curateme. Since there was no written language much of the history is oral. During the 14th and 15th centuries the Purepecha empire was strong and prosperous. They were the only people the Aztecs could not conquer. This is the hotel plaza of the Fiesta

Mexico 2003 — The hotel was on the smaller plaza - Plaza Gertrudis Bocanegra - the plaza has a statue of Dona Gertrudis Bocanegra, a Patzcuaro native and a heroine of the War of Independence.

Hotel info:
Fiesta
Address:
Phone 52-415-204 58
E-mail:
Web:

Mexico 2003 — The main Plaza - Plaza Vasco de Quiroga - is huge. It is full of trees and surrounded by colonial buildings. The plaza is named after Don Vasco de Quiroga who moved the Bishopric of the state from Tzintzuntzan to Patzcuaro making it the capital of the state. There are several hotels and restaurants surrounding the plaza. All the buildings are painted white on top and red on the bottom three feet. We ate breakfast at the same restaurant we had dinner - El Patio - very good.

Mexico 2003 — After breakfast we headed to the lake for some water fun. Lake Patzcuaro has six islands the biggest is Isla de Janitzio there are regular (as regular as anything in Mexico) ferries to and from the island. This is one of the boats leaving for the island.

Mexico 2003 — The natives fish the lake for bass and trout - I suppose other fish as well. Here is a fisherman in the middle of the lake.

Mexico 2003 — Janitzio Island is a 20 minute ride across Lake Patzcuaro from the Patzcuaro pier. The indigenous inhabitants of the island are fishermen but there were several booths hawking all manners of stuff on the shore. Liz Holman even found place mats with 'Made in China' on the tags.

Mexico 2003 — The statue at the top of the island is 120 feet high representation of Don Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon. Inside the statue are paintings of the hero's life painted by Ramon Alva de la Canal.

Mexico 2003 — The fisherman was stationed near the island to provide a show for the tourists. Here they are dropping their nets for a catch.

Mexico 2003 — Fishermen raise their unique butterfly nets and gather their catch. All show as there seemed to be no fish ensnared. They did hold up a little minnow but it is hard to see in the picture. After this shot they paddled up to the boat and sought tips.

Mexico 2003 — We thought this dish was amazing - little fish fried whole and served like french fries. We did not see anyone eating the dish but they were being served on the Patzcuaro pier and on Janitzio Island.

Mexico 2003 — After the boat trip we headed to the largest ruins around the lack - Tzintzuntzan. It was the center of the Purepecha Empire and the first capital of the state of Michoacan. It's name means 'Place of Hummingbirds'. It is a large platform holding five buildings of rectangular and semicircle shaped buildings.

Mexico 2003 — Here Virginia Ann, Liz, and Cal read the plaque describing the ruins - called Las Yacatas. Built on the side of the hills looking over the lake the ruins had a ramp down to lake and the city dwellings.

Mexico 2003 — The ruins consist of five buildings all the same dimensions on top of the plateau.

Mexico 2003 — Liz and Cal at one of the five buildings. Tzintzuntzan functioned as a ceremonial center, from which political, military, and religious power was exerted. It was at this site where top ranking leaders resided.

Mexico 2003 — You can see the round shape of the buildings.

Mexico 2003 — Each building is separated by V shaped opening.

Mexico 2003 — Here you can see the brickwork (done without mortar) and lower on the building the outer layer of larger stone that was mortared.

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