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dmhaun

Sep 15, 2011, 11:15 AM

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Day-tripping from Michoacan to Bernal, Queretaro

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One of my favorite reasons to live on Lake Patzcuaro, in Michoacan, is day-tripping to surrounding areas. There is so much to see, a few hundred miles away, in any direction. About 200 miles to the south is the Pacific Ocean and Caleta Beach; to the north, about 200 miles is San Miguel and Guanajuato; to the west about 200 miles, lay Guadalajara and Lake Chapala; and to the east, it is about 200 miles to Mexico City. However, we went northeast, also about 200 miles, to the state capital of Queretaro.
The four brothers were on vacation again and we spent the day in the Pueblo Magico of Bernal, about 30 miles from Queretaro. The main attraction is the third largest monolith in the world, the massive rock, Pena de Bernal.
After a hearty breakfast at Queretaro’s Home B & B, consisting of organic coffee, followed by fresh strawberries and pears, toasted sour dough bread with black olives, guacamole and salsa, steamed white potato slices with butter and an egg torta with squash blossoms, we were ready to climb La Pena.
The four brothers hiked to our own comfort level. One made it out of the parking lot, to the Amphitheatre, with the dancing waters, I hiked to where the steps ended and the stones started, twin-bro hiked to the steep boulders and nephew, our adopted brother, made it to the end of the walking trail, the base of La Pena. A young man, loaded with gear, quickly passed all of us and was scaling the face of La Pena as we were gasping for air far below.
The town of Bernal is magical. Flowers were blooming everywhere and the town was immaculate. On a Tuesday, not many stores, galleries and restaurants were open, but it was nice having the place to ourselves. Every turn of the cobblestone streets brought a beautiful vista of La Pena. It was a photographer’s dream, with stone arches outlining La Pena, slivers of town bordering La Pena, and grand vistas overshadowed by La Pena.
We were impressed. Feliz Viaje, David PS On the way out of town, don’t miss Carnitas La Peña, on the periférico road of Bernal. The carnitas were delicious because the cazo, or copper cooking kettle, was located at the front door of the restaurant, not at a remote cooking area. He was cooking and chopping, as she was serving the sizzling carnitas and cold, Mexican, beer.
There is just something special about hot carnitas, straight from the copper kettle.
Saludos de Patzcuaro mágico, David

The Queretaro Aqueduct
Bringing the best of Queretaro
http://groups.yahoo.com/.../queretaro_aqueduct/

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The Michoacan Net
Supporting the Arts in Michoacan
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Michoacan_net/

(This post was edited by dmhaun on Sep 15, 2011, 8:27 PM)