Ok, I’m back with some more photos of my trip to Mexico. This time I’m sharing some of the Mexican countryside. Like I mentioned in this post, while in Mexico I took the opportunity to tag along with my friend Arte to visit her parents in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán.
This town might be mostly known for being located by the lake of the same name, but there is so much more to Pátzcuaro than that.
It is one of those quintessential Mexican towns that can make you feel like you traveled back in time to get there. It has a charming town center with a big plaza surrounded by Spanish colonial buildings with big arches. Behind the arches, before entering the buildings, one can enjoy the front halls full of tables from little cafes and restaurants as well as improvised establishments of artisans selling their handcrafted goods. Many of these artisans come from families who have been doing the same craft for generations, and their creations are some of the most beautiful things you’ll ever see, and can include works in clay, bronze, hand-carved wood, textiles, vegetable fibers, toys, miniature sculptures, and cantera.
Other than that, the town is pretty rural. Most streets are paved with rock or not at all. As soon as you leave behind the town center, you start seeing corn fields, cows out in the open field enjoying the pasture, horses and, yes, the occasional donkey. Men still work the fields with their own hands, preparing the soil for planting with a pickax, no fancy tractors or machinery here. Many women still wear the traditional clothing from the ancient tribe they might descend from, which includes handcrafted skirts and blouses, usually embroidered and very colorful.
Gastronomy is yet another reason to fall in love with this area. Handmade corn tortillas can be found everywhere, ready to accompany some of the traditional dishes. Among these are uchepos, the name given to corn tamales served with cream and cheese; corundas, another type of tamal that comes in a triangular shape, stuff with cheese and occasionally some vegetables, also served with cream and cheese, these happen to be a personal favorite and I ate way too many of them while I was in Mexico; sopa tarasca, a soup similar to tortilla soup but the broth is mixed with a bean soup; charales, a type of fish about the size of anchovies but served fried; nieve de zapote, a handmade ice cream that you can find in almost any flavor you can think of and many you never would thought of; different types of mole, galletas (cookies), pan dulce (pastries), typical candy, and much more.
I could go on and on about all the wonders of Pátzcuaro, but I‘m short on time as I’m sure you are too, so I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
