Cuitzeo Also Has Its Share of Magic

Cuitzeo used to be the little town you had to go through to get to the balnearios at Huandacareo.  The least known of Michoacan's four "Pueblos Magicos" , I find its peacefulness and lack of tourists to be refreshing.  Even on the weekends you can just find a place to sit and watch life shuffle by. 

Huaniqueo, Michoacán

If you're headed over to the Pan American Games in Guadalajara heading east from Morelia, there is a portion of the drive on the cuaota near Huaniqueo that always has something special at dawn.  Sometimes it's fog, sometimes it's flowers, on this particular morning it was water in the fields reflecting the warm glow of the day's beginning.

Serendipity Patzcuaro Style

My wife and I have this ongoing contest between Spanish and English to see which one wins.  "Serendipity" put a win in the English column, there's just no way to communicate this as accurately in Spanish.  It also happens to be a great way to enjoy Patzcuaro, Michoacan on any given Sunday afternoon.  You don't need an agenda, just go to the main plaza and wait for something cool to unfold.

Lake Cuitzeo, Michoacan, Mexico

"You don't miss the water 'til the well runs dry."  -Bob Dylan

You may not have known that today is World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, I didn´t either until I picked up the morning paper.  Reminded me of this photo taken on Lake Cuitzeo in Michoacán a couple years back, the western extremity completely dry, abandoned fishing boats scattered along the shore.  Fortunately, the heavy 2010 precipitation filled it back up, but how long will it stay that way?

Tuxpan, Michoacan, Mexico

There is a two lane highway with some impressive views that passes through Tuxpan when going from Morelia to the monarch sanctuary or Valle de Bravo.  On this particular day, what caught my attention was this countryside cemetary (they always intrigue me), although I took all the color out with this infrared rendition.

Chorros del Varal, Los Reyes, Michoacan

It only took a postcard to get me here back in 1992, and some Spanish to stop and ask along the dirt road heading west out of Los Reyes if this was the way to the waterfalls.  No signs.  At that point, only a couple miles from the falls, we were driving through flat sugar cane fields.  At one little town, there was a rope across the road.  We stopped and paid the unofficial five peso fee to be able to continue.  This is Mexico.  A map will only get you so far, then you have to ask directions.  And if you come to a rope and need to pay a tip, just pay it.  Don't be the ugly American and request a receipt.  Believe me, the final destination, more often than not, will be well worth it!