BajaNomad

Patzcuaro

motoged - 2-13-2014 at 12:25 PM

I spent a week in Michoacan last March on a motorcycle....it was the first of 4 weeks in western Mexico. I thought the state was very beautiful from the mountains to the coast...aside from carnitas food poisoning in Mazamitla, the experience was great.

Patzcuaro and the areas north of Uruapan stand out as does the coastal area.

I was very mindful of the risk as my research of the area was as extensive as the internet and several months of planning allowed...I was riding solo and never felt threatened aside from some crazy drivers. I stayed clear of the area around Apatzingan.

I am not naive as to the varying situations there, but would go back again and appreciate what it offers in terms of geography, culture, and the people.

Best ice cream on the planet is to be found on the zocalo of Patzcuaro :coolup:

[Edited on 2-13-2014 by motoged]

Patzcuaro

DENNIS - 2-13-2014 at 12:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by motoged

Best ice cream on the planet is to be found on the zocalo of Patzcuaro :coolup:



Evidently a widely shared opinion. There's a chain of Ice Cream Parlors here [and probably elsewhere] called "La Michoacana." [I don't care much for their product here. Not enough cream and too much frozen water]



.





[Edited on 2-13-2014 by DENNIS]

Patzcuaro

EnsenadaDr - 2-13-2014 at 12:39 PM

Ice Cream Parlours? Holy Toledo Dennis, I haven't heard that saying since the 1960'ss!! Hope you are coming along and progressing with the physical therapy!!
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by motoged

Best ice cream on the planet is to be found on the zocalo of Patzcuaro :coolup:



Evidently a widely shared opinion. There's a chain of Ice Cream Parlors here [and probably elsewhere] called "La Michoacana." [I don't care much for their product here. Not enough cream and too much frozen water]



.





[Edited on 2-13-2014 by DENNIS]

Patzcuaro

DavidE - 2-13-2014 at 12:58 PM

Zocalo Grande? Don Vasco?

Plaza Chica? Bocanegra (with the statue of her one of my Mexican heros)

Tuesday mornings 9 am to noon. Walk to the extreme rear of the mercado municipal on plaza bocanegra and find strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries the size of a pencil tip eraser. All at prices so low they will make you weep.

Dennis, ask for nieve de leche and the pop-sickle will taste better. A do-it yourself mix of mango, chocolate, topped with trocitos de frambuesa (minced raspberries) topped with cream (Mexican cream is thick and needs to be spooned) is better than anything else I can think of. Then again, a quick jaunt to a "Bing's will give you heart palpitations when you read the price list above the counter. Any Sam's offshoot, Wal-Mart, Bodega Aurrera, carries ice cream in large freezer cramming tubs.

Fresh fruit, ice cubes, cream and a few cucharas de piloncillo or miel de abeja run through a good blender like a Ninja fixes my sugar craving just fine. I use pitahayas when in season.

Patzcuaro

motoged - 2-13-2014 at 04:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
Zocalo Grande? ......


Si, on the west side of the zocalo ....several stands.

One afternoon I was enjoying un baso of a few flavours when the click-clacking of "El Baile de los Viejos — Dance of the Old Men". I have some video but can't post it....a half dozen dancers ranging successively from adults to young children....

Traditional dress and hinged wooden sandals....and a backup with guitars and other stringed instruments.

A memory to cherish!

Patzcuaro

DavidE - 2-13-2014 at 04:32 PM

Not useless curiosity señor motoged, Before too long I am going to find myself sitting there, sampling your recommendation. On the same side is a store selling superb chiapas whole bean cafe just in case you find yourself back there. Un surtidora. The family LOVES Patzcuaro in las aguas. The look on Dalia's face age five, picking up a handful of granizos, hail, six inches thick on the plaza was priceless. after the heat of the coast the family absolutely collapsed for 15 hours
FYI the best restaurant IMO is the one outside of town headed for Mex 14-D right next to the gasolinera. Inexpensive and genuine Mexican food.

BajaBlanca - 2-14-2014 at 11:36 AM

Some pics would be nice.....

DianaT - 2-14-2014 at 11:57 AM

We love Patzcuaro and the dancers and ice cream are GREAT. :-) The National Park by Uruapan is interesting in the areas where they have "improved" upon nature.

I hope you visited the other towns around the Lake and the ruins. Great place.

And yes, I would love to see your photos!

Santa Clara del Cobre

tripledigitken - 2-14-2014 at 12:04 PM

One lasting memory of our trip to Patzcuaro, was our trip to Santa Clara del Cobre in search of copper pots. We arrived there early before the galleries opened, no activity or noise at all except... From the surrounding hills you could hear, ping ping ping. The copper artists were up making their goods.

A magical place not to be missed.

With BajaBlanca's request for some Patzcuaro photos

CasaManzana - 2-17-2014 at 09:05 AM

.....we rent a house there for a week or two each year to sop up the beauty of this friendly little city. At about 7000 feet elevation, we learned to carry an electric heater unless we were there after March. I love the 'drive-in beer stores there-



And one of their specialties there is wood-carved everythings-

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http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m208/casamanzana/Temporary%20Stuff/P1010751.jpg[/IMG]



The town is centered around two big plazas. At 4:00 the city lets anyone set up tables and stoves on the sidewalks and streets for food there. I've never seen a place with so much street food service. It's all good and very inexpensive (as are house rentals)-





And the open air street market is huge-



The ferry from La Paz to Topo takes just 6 hours and is well run, clean and fun. Just do it!