Bernie's Travels: Patzcuaro

From Eronga I took a day trip 10 miles around Lake Patzcuaro to visit the picturesque colonial town of Patzcuaro. Full of red and white adobe buildings with clay tiled roofs, old churches, and beautiful plazas Patzcuaro was a gorgeous town and a great place to spend a day or much more. The town has a long colonial history dating back to the early 1500's and was once the capital of the state of Michoacan. It's early prominence helped to create it's majestic setting while moving the capital to Morelia helped to preserve its serene charm.

Patzcuaro is the most popular and scenic town on Lake Patzcuaro and plenty of folks arrive here before traveling to other Purepecha towns around the lake such as Eronga or Janitzio Island which attract loads of visitors during the popular and unique “Day of the Dead” celebrations in early November.

My day in Patzcuaro was mostly spent roaming around the streets, market, and the two beautiful plazas. There was plenty of action in the larger park with kids running around busting bubbles, painting, and riding ponies. There was also a musical group with folk dancers rhythmically stomping to the music as they wore masks and hunched over faining an elderly appearance.

Ferries at dock in Patzcuaro, traveling to and from Janitzio and the other islands in the lake.

Tourists walking the dock in Patzcuaro

On my way back to Eronga I stopped off to visit one of the cultural oddities of the area. Outside of Patzcuaro in one of the small villages around the lake there is a temple dedicated to the mysterious “Santa Muerte” (saint of death). Ordinary, regular folks were visiting and paying there respects to this mysterious figure for somehow helping them in their lives. I don't really understand the belief, but it was quite a spectacle. In the various alters that paid homage to the “Santa Muerte” there was a strange collection of booze, cigarettes, cash, and apples left as offerings.