Forums > Areas > Central Highlands

drmike

Nov 1, 2007, 9:14 AM

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mariposa's

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This is our first autumn and winter in the Central Highlands. Around our area, Villa Victoria, Valle de Bravo and Zitacuaro, are the preserves for the annual migration of the monarch butterflies.

We are looking forward to seeing the sight of millions of mariposa's this year. Yesterday (halloween) I was out in the front yard and hundreds of orange and black (appropriate halloween colors) butterflies were flying about. I assume these are the "scouts" just ahead of the mass.

I was happy to see one of natures glorious shows at it's begining.
Dr. Mike

http://www.smarthealthchoices.blogspot.com

There are hundreds of paths up the mountain,
all leading in the same direction,
so it doesn't matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is the one
who runs around and around the mountain,
telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.

Hindu teaching

TigerTonio

Nov 12, 2007, 7:02 PM

Post #2 of 7 (2842 views)

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Re: [drmike] mariposa's

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I didn't know any Americans lived out in that area. Great!

I'm west of Morelia and every once in while I look up and there are small clusters of Monarcas in the sky. Magical.

Here is recent article from LA Times on the mariposas along with a bit on Morelia.

http://travel.latimes.com/.../la-tr-morelia4nov04

Oscar2

Nov 13, 2007, 10:27 AM

Post #3 of 7 (2803 views)

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Re: [drmike] mariposa's

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Dr. Mike and Tio,

What a beautiful article. Especially when I’m at the cusp of putting my trip together to visit Morelia. Its amazing and such a formidable challenge how 150 million wispy little butterflies annually drudge 2500 miles to mate in Morelia, then the males die and the females forge back another 2500 miles to lay their eggs and meet their demise. And the cycle starts over again. How they find there way back is still a mystery.

It’s a tragic, yet a beautifully amazing annual episode, which speaks way beyond the visual of wispy, seemingly innocent little butterflies streaming across the blue. Hopefully they’ll still be present when I get down there before January.

toddmc

Nov 13, 2007, 2:00 PM

Post #4 of 7 (2795 views)

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Re: [drmike] mariposa's

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We are also looking forward to the butterflies.
Had planned on going last year but my dear wife ended up in a wheelchair for a while.
But, while planning the trip I came across a couple of other things in the area that we want to check out.
I thought I would share them in case anyone else is interested, or has been there Please share some comments.

The first is the Cosmovitral-Jardin Botanico in Toluca, it sounds like a striking garden display along with what is purported to be some exquisite stain glass.
Here is a link that will tell you a bit more.
http://www.planeta.com/.../gardens/toluca.html

Also read about ruins of Los Alzati, which cover more than 20 hectares and have a pyramid almost 80 meters high!
It can be found 2 kilometers west of San Felipe. At least that is the info I found in Tony Burtons book on Western Mexico.
More info on his book can be found here.
http://www.mexconnected.com/sombrero/

When I get a chance to visit, I will post some pictures!

Todd
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Our new life in Patzcuaro: http://lifeinthecorazon.blogspot.com
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Our new life in Patzcuaro: http://lifeinthecorazon.blogspot.com

Gayla

Nov 14, 2007, 1:07 PM

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Re: [toddmc] mariposa's

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Todd, here's a link to a post I did a few years ago here on MexConnect on the Cosmovitral - http://mexconnected.com/...g=Cosmovitral;#78717

It's definitely worth the visit. They have guides (English and Spanish, tho the Spanish guides are more numerous) and it's also worth hiring a guide who can explain all the nuances and meanings of the stained glass.

TigerTonio

Nov 14, 2007, 4:21 PM

Post #6 of 7 (2750 views)

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Re: [Gayla] mariposa's

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Wow. The Cosmovitral sounds fabulous. I will definitely be making the trip there soon.

And to correct my post above -- I live just outside of Morelia on the east side, not the west (dunno what I was thinking).

TigerTonio

Nov 25, 2007, 6:23 PM

Post #7 of 7 (2689 views)

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Re: [Tio Toño] mariposa's - great news!

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Some good news for the mariposas monarcas...and good news for Michoacan and Mexico!

http://news.yahoo.com/...mexico_butterflies_4