Forums > Areas > Central Highlands

jennifer rose

Oct 31, 2003, 8:53 PM

Post #1 of 1 (671 views)

Shortcut

Dia de los Muertos en Patzcuaro

Can't Post |

Warm weather and sunny skies greeted visitors to Patzcuaro for Dia de los Muertos – which should really be “Mes de los Muertos” given the huge slate of events planned during this week and over the weekend. The tianguis in the Plaza Don Vasco is packed with an exciting array of crafts to fit every style and budget – from the very economical to the expensive. And scores of tourists were Muertos recidivists – the Mansion Iturbe was filled only with repeat guests this year.

Each year some different aspect of Muertos’ tourist traffic strikes me. This year there seemed to be record numbers of gringos trying very, very hard to speak Spanish. Of course, their Spanish was lousy and rudimentary, but their attempts were impressive.

Huge smiles could be seen all around this pueblo magico, from vendors who were thrilled to making sales to buyers who happily snapping up arts and crafts. Folks seemed to be buying record quantities – everything from children’s sombreros to rebozos, laca and, of course, lots of pottery. We made a quick escape to Santa Clara de Cobre for lunch at the Camino Real, shopping at El Porton and at the taller of Ignacio Punzo.

The press trip on Lake Patzcuaro was just as magical as ever while a dozen fisherman performed the ritual of the butterfly nets from their canoes. The only foreign photographers there were actually Mexicans who were filming for PBS. BTW, if any of you out there in TVLand are watching TV Azteca tomorrow, you might see an interview with someone you may recognize.