the bear went ‘round -- not over -- the mountain

Saturday was a photographer's dream day.

For the past few days we have had either rain or overcast skies.  I like shooting some scenes on days like that.  But most sights in Mexico work best with a blue sky setting off the object.  After all, most people come to Mexico for the sun.

And, as a result of the festival events, I have not been spending as much time in the countryside as I usually do. So, I intended to make Saturday another day in the country.

But I first had an act of joy to complete.  Doug and Kathy Butler had invited me to assist them in cooking and serving a meal at El Sagrario -- the kitchen that feeds the needy in Pátzcuaro.

Once a month Kathy cooks a meal with an international flair.  Saturday was Brazil.  I wish I had written down the full menu.  But I can remember a bit. 

A stew of sausage, vegetables, and black beans served over rice.  With a salad made of chayote, parsley, mandarin oranges, garlic, onion, and lime juice.  And several selections of bread.  Topped off by a dessert.

There were just over 30 diners.  Some taking their meal back to their homes.  For many, it is their only meal of the day.

It was a nice way to start the day.  And, no, I did not take any photographs.  This is one of those acts where a camera could only get in the way.

But the camera came out for a few shots on my trip along the southern shore of Lake Pátzcuaro.  I love the drive, and I cannot believe I almost did not get on that highway during the two weeks I was here.

The lake is nearly bisected by a volcano.  The drive is essentially a ring road around the volcano.  And a beautiful drive it is.

The combination of the sun, the lake water, and the mountains was intoxicating enough that I often forgot to take photographs. Last year I imagined what it would be like to live on the volcano watching the lake below.

And I  dreamed it again this year.  It would be a nice place to spend my time in Mexico.

Last year I stopped at a house on the lake between Tzintzuntzan and Quiroga with the wild idea of buying.  It is still on the market.  But it is on the flats.  Not on the volcano.

You can see the lack in the upper left background.  And that is another rub.  Having discovered that mosquitoes are an incredible problem at that end of the lake, the idea will be filed away as another unrealized dream.

Speaking of dreams, how do you like this Coke advertisement? It is supposed to be customized for Pátzcuaro.  But it looks to me as if a Bollywood artist found a new gig.

Tomorrow I will be on my way back to Melaque.  To pick up my beach life where I left off in July.  Or was it June?