Sunday, September 30, 2012

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?

14 comments:

Babsofsanmiguel said...

I love the road to Ihautzio where the bull ring is in the middle of the road, so they built the road to circle the bull ring.  Out at my friend's b&b, with a view of the lake is a lovely, not quiet, place to stay.  Why not quiet, you ask?  Because cows, horses, donkeys, pigs, roosters and whatever else is out there make noises all night long!  It is SO beautiful however.

Steve Cotton said...

That entire area that juts into the lake is fascinating.   Especially, its improvised feeling.

Andean said...

Wow, already. Your highland adventure went by so quickly--for me anyway.

Shannon Casey said...

I'm so glad you got a chance to visit El Sagrario! And dia de los gringos is the most fun. The folks are used to the international fare now but it sure threw them for a loop when we first started doing it!
I'm also glad you got your drive around the lake, it really is a magical place.
Have a safe trip home. 

Steve Cotton said...

 I will certainly return  -- for more lake tales.

Steve Cotton said...

 It was fast.  but I have been gone for over two months.

DonCuevas said...

Have a safe trip.

Don y Doña Cuevas

Steve Cotton said...

 Gracias, señor. 

Thank you for everything.  You helped make this a grand tour.

John Calypso said...

Yikes - that Coke sign is like everything else about Coke - AWFUL!

DonCuevas said...

Babs, can I safely assume that the B&B is Casa Santiago? Where John Ross breathed his last?

Steve has apparently not yet come to grips with the trabalenguas names of local places: besides Ihuatzio, there's Cucuchucho; and the ultimate, Ucazanasatacua. Not to mention Tzintzuntzan and Tzintzuntzita.
That is also one of my favorite areas of the lakeshore.

On the north shore of the lake, about San Jerónimo Purenchecuaro is the hilltop Restaurante y Cabañas Sandio, which Felipe Zapata,in an earlier life once called "the most beautiful view in the world", or words to that effect. It is truly a beautiful view.

Saludos, Don Cuevas

DonCuevas said...

There's a big sign of a huge hand grabbing a Coke bottle, located along the highway at Xangari, one of the south portals to Morelia. I must get a photo of that, as it's a retro classic.

Saludos, Don Cuevas

Steve Cotton said...

Them is fightin' words.  Especially in Mexico.

Steve Cotton said...

There is also an interesting Cole billboard by Soriana.  With a ladder as part of the display.

Steve Cotton said...

You have listed some of my favorite place names.