Goodman's Journey
  • Home
  • Blogroll

FESTIVAL TIME...Tocuaro Style

2/2/2010

2 Comments

 
Picture
_
2 February 2010

All across Mexico the rain, hail, thunder and lightning has made its mark and here at Pátzcuaro it’s proved no different.  Now coming from Seattle I should be used to rain, but when it comes down so hard and for so long, and since we’re travelers and wanting to see as much of this wonderful area as we can, we’d like to see it STOP!!! 

Even while we were traveling through Europe we had days where the weather just wanted to “dictate” our agenda.  At times we succumbed and stayed bundled up in the VW van, AND we’ve found that we have chosen to do the same here in our Minnie Winnie.  Well you can only do that for sooo long and you’ve got to bust out.  That’s what we did yesterday.  The tug of getting out of our 160 sq.ft enclosure and with the rain becoming more of a sprinkle, we layered our clothes, dug out the umbrella, and headed into Pátzcuaro.  We knew we didn’t want to walk the 20-30 minutes into town so we opted to hail a “combi”.  For $5 pesos each we were driven almost door to door and it only took 10 minutes.  Just to remind you what a combi is, it’s a Toyota or similar VW van that has been made into a short delivery bus system that carries up to 12 sitting and as many as 15 with those standing.  For our trip we joined 5 others so it was very comfortable.  During the drive there were two ladies that were holding a conversation about their family and Louise was having (and feeling guilty) a good time trying her Spanish listening ability.  Well by the time we got out of our coach and arrived at the “chica” plaza it was either another coffee break or minutes early for lunch…lunch won out.  The only reason that I am writing about this is for what I had chosen from the menu.  Sorry I can’t remember what it was called, but…scrambled eggs, peppers, whole but very tiny fish (the length about 1 ¼”) all scrambled together in a Verde sauce.



Picture
_We saw these fish at every restaurant on our trip to Isle Janitzio, and it seems that they are only second to Pescado Blanco in this area.  I found this dish to be really good, a little spicy, but I’d so it again without a second thought.  Louise stuck with Huevos Rancheros.  With our 12V electrical system giving us a “challenge” we decided to find a small table lamp.  On our first couple of outings we struck out, but today we hit pay-dirt…a small white lamp and a 22w fluorescent to give us exactly what we wanted.  For the last week we’ve heard about a festival at one of the little villages around Lake Patzcuaro.  Tocuaro, which is near Erongaricuaro on the western shore of the lake, is known for its mask carvers.  These artisans do their work and sales out of their homes.  Another artisan product that is produced at Tocuaro is embroidered textiles.  Now, the festival that we’d heard about was the special celebration on February 2nd, “Candlemas Day”.  It’s celebrated throughout Mexico with parades, dances, and a festival.  It’s important in the Mexican calendar with the birth of Jesus and the midpoint of winter and spring.  Besides candle-light processions to the church for service, they follow that with big parties with family, friends, and loved ones.  During the gathering and before entering the church, the courtyard in front is invaded with men wearing carved wooden masks

Picture
_(locally carved) of skulls, devils, very imaginative birds, serpents, lizards, and things like frogs.  They are all carved out of Copilillo (a wood only found in Michoacan) and Avocado wood.  They encircle a group of young boys and girls that are holding these huge poles decorated with white linen and flowers and try as best as they can to disturb them and the crowd that’s encircling all.

Picture
_Unfortunately the heavy rain appeared again, but to those that came to celebrate it didn’t hurt a thing.    I’ll step back to earlier in the day… After brunch, purchasing our lamp, and scouting out more of Patzcuaro, we headed back to the coach.  Louise and I had decided to try and find that “possible” festival a Tocuaro.  The couple next door was asked to join us so the 4 of us went out to find a combi that would take us.  For $8 pesos each we were underway.  We were let out beside the roadway and told that the cobblestone/dirt road across the street would take us to the village of Tocuaro.  We had met this young lady on the combi and seeing as how she was going our way, we followed along.  When we approached her home she told us that “if you need anything, this is where I live, just come and get me, but the village and the church is just up the road”…that’s the hospitality we’ve found all over Mexico.  Like she said, the church was just up the road,


Picture
_and they were in the process of getting ready for the festival.

Picture
_Soooo, now what?  No sooner had that thought come up when we heard a band playing.  Where there’s music, there’s a gathering and we should be a part of it.  Well we no sooner found the music and the crowd, but we found ourselves being invited into “The Mayor’s” personal property for one heck of a festival.  They had a large brass ensemble playing great Mexican music,

Picture
_tables filled with people from the village drinking beer and tequila, and being fed a wonderful meal of beef, rice, and beans.  With no way of saying “I can’t, or I’m sorry for interrupting”, we were escorted to a place under a lean-to, encouraged to sit while a huge portion of food was set before us,

Picture
_and a case of beer was on its way…”WHAT A FESTIVAL !!!” If we weren’t family or part of the village, we were welcomed friends.  In this area, the people are not only artisans, mayors, or whatever, they are people with farm animals, and that is where the lean-to comes in…it was a cover for the stock.  Yes it smelled a little, looked a little rough, but it was cover from the rain and it was a “FESTIVAL”.  Now I’m not sure if you can tell from this photo of the little girl, but this it the “two-hole’r”.

Picture
_We only saw women using it and can only guess were the men went or is it that men can just hold it longer…  Well on another subject, who is that lady with the pink hat dancing with that Mexican gentleman?

Picture
_Oh ya, on another subject which I’m happy to be around for, was a 70th birthday toast with churro’s… 

Picture
2 Comments
coach slovenia link
11/7/2013 05:29:16 pm

thank you for sharing...

see
Europa Coaches Slovenia is an experienced company that provides transportation services in Slovenia and all around Europe

Reply
Europa Coaches Slovenia link
11/17/2013 09:13:20 pm

thanks for sharing information

could like to see this site also

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    *Locations*

    All
    Amsterdam
    Austria
    Belgium
    Bosnya
    Canada
    Croatia
    Czech Republic
    Egypt
    England
    Estonia
    France
    Germany
    Germany Part 2
    Greece
    Hungary
    Ireland
    Italy
    Latvia
    Lithuania
    Luxembourg
    Madrid
    Mexico
    Mexico Bcs
    MX - Cabo San Lucas
    Netherlands
    Poland
    Portugal
    Scotland
    Serbia
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Spain
    Switzerland
    Turkey
    USA - Alabama
    USA - Alaska
    USA - Arizona
    USA - California
    USA - Colorado
    USA - Florida
    USA - Georgia
    USA - Idaho
    USA - Illinois
    USA - Indiana
    USA - Kentucky
    USA - Louisiana
    USA - Maine
    USA - Maryland
    USA - Massachusetts
    USA - Michigan
    USA - Minnesota
    USA - Mississippi
    USA - Montana
    USA - Nevada
    USA - New Jersey
    USA - New Mexico
    USA - New York
    USA - North Dakota
    USA - Ohio
    USA - Oregon
    USA - Pennsylvania
    USA - Seattle
    USA - South Dakota
    USA - Tennessee
    USA - Texas
    USA - Utah
    USA - Vermont
    USA - Washington
    USA - Wisconsin
    USA - Wyoming
    Utrecht Nl
    Wales


    *Archives*

    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    July 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    November 2006
    October 2006
    September 2006
    August 2006
    July 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    April 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    September 2005
    August 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    February 2005
    January 2005
    December 2004
    November 2004
    October 2004
    September 2004
    August 2004
    July 2004
    June 2004
    May 2004
    April 2004
    March 2004
    February 2004
    January 2004
    December 2003

© 2020 Lakeside Local, LLC