Mexico Travel: Excursions near Morelia - Quiroga, Tzintzuntzan, Janitzio, Patzcuaro
My second day in Morelia entailed a full-day excursion to nearby Lake Patzcuaro. After an enjoyable country drive we made our first stop in Quiroga, a commercial country town that is well known for its carnitas, exquisitely roasted tender pork that is rolled up inside a soft tortilla delicious! Hundreds of vendors sell clothing, fruits, vegetables and all sorts of trinkets. After a stop in the historic town of Tzintzuntzan, the former capital of the Purepecha empire, we drove to the shores of Lake Patzcuaro and took a boat to the island of Janitzio, an island that is crowned by a 50 metre high statue of Jose Maria Morelos, one of Mexicos most important indepence heros. Janitizo is most well known for its exuberant celebrations of the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). After climbing up a series of steep steps flanked by shops selling handicrafts and local food, we reached the top of the island and even lined up to climb the inside of the statue. Once we had reached the top of the statue we were able to peer out over the lake from the stretched-out fist of Jose Maria Morelos. Our final stop for the day was in the historic town of Patzcuaro where we grabbed a bite to eat and took a walk through the historic downtown. We visited the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Salud as well as the Casa de los Once Patios (House of the Eleven Courtyards), a former nunnery that has been turned into a centre of culture and arts and crafts. We watched two local artists, a woodworker and <b>...</b>
Travel Mexico Michoacan Morelia Patzcuaro Lake Patzcuaro Quiroga Tzintzuntzan Janitzio Casa de los Once Patios El Sagrario Jose Maria Morelos Day of the Dead Dia de los Muertos Purepecha carnitas travelandtransitions
