Album 11 - Pátzcuaro, Lake Cruise to Janitzio Island, Drive around Lake

January 8-9, 2006  -  The town of Pátzcuaro is itself a lovely and fascinating place to spend many days.  However it is also a great and comfortable base from which to explore the many outlying villages, sites and attractions.  On the two days covered by this photo album, we would make such trips in areas to the north of the town.
1

On a cool Sunday morning we are out to hit the bread store, the tamale stand & the fruit market - a great way to start the day!
2

We were impressed with how well local folks use & enjoy their plazas - especially noticeable were all the recent Xmas presents being exercised.
3

We then headed north of town, toward the lake, to visit some of the local woodworking shops.
4

Susan & Jack enjoy some of the colorful wooden creations.
5

Then it is on to the Lake and a boat ride out to the popular island.
6

We get a great serenade en route by this group of musicians.
7

As we approach, we get a good view of this very popular tourist destination island.
8

Nearing the Isla Janitzio the boat stops so that passengers can observe this demonstration of locals with their traditional "butterfly" fishing nets.
9

This seemed a little less authentic when the boatmen then approached our boat asking for payment - then just sat in their tiny boats until the next load of tourists came by.
10

This was a busy island with a great influx of a weekend crowd. It may have been the final weekend of the holiday season.
11

While Keith rested his leg, Jack & Susan accepted the challenge to hike up the narrow passages to the top where the statue of independence hero José Maria Morelos y Pavón raises his fist.
12

Time for us all to have a cervesa before boarding another boat for the approximately 30 minute return trip - with one last view of the center of the island as we depart.
13

After dropping off all passengers at one dock, our boat shuttles to pick up the next load of folks headed for the island. 
14

Early on Monday morning we heard military type drums echoing up to our hotel. It was the local police drum & bugle corps with a flag raising ceremony.
15

Our trek for the day was a drive out to circumvent Lake Pátzcuaro (counter clockwise) - our first stop being one of the towns noted for stone carving.
16

We all enjoyed looking & Peg couldn't pass up a heavy stone dove.
17

We don't spend much time here but do get a look at the partially restored Ihuatzio archaeological site.
18

A Tzintzuntzan fabric artisan's museum/shop captures Peg's interest & leads to this purchase & photo.
19

Almost by magic we find ourselves in the historical courtyard complex of "de San Francisco" convent and church.  We later learn that it was here in the 16th century that the Franciscan monks began their missionary efforts in this region.
20

Keith, coming from olive country, requests this photo among these ancient gnarled olive trees - said to be the oldest olives trees in the Americas & actually looking older than the ones he remembered seeing in the holy lands years ago.
21

As we leave the church yard we catch this close-up photo of a local hard working burro.  Daily life goes on around this historic place.
22

On to the busy town of Quiroga where Keith finds these marimba players serenading a truck near the town plaza.
23

Walking through the busy local open-air market, Peg needed to add this fish market photo to her collection, which began in Japan.
24

After a good lunch in Quiroga, we venture on around the lake to see in how many little villages we can get lost - and then find our way out.
25

Just one of the many quaint & colorful villages on the west side of the Lake.
26

South of the village of Arocutín we find this unusual resort & restaurant - Campestre Alemán - known for its German cuisine.
27

Having had a large & filling lunch previously, we settled for German deserts & coffee - and hopes of returning.

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