Querétaro 2016

Our friends Agustín and Lupita invited us to join them on a weekend trip to Michoacán. Agustín's niece Natalia and her parents Yola and Alberto live in and around Morelia. They very graciously hosted us for our visit to Morelia and Uruapan.

On the way from Querétaro to Morelia on Saturday, we stopped in Yuriria for a visit to the marvelous ex-convent there.

Once we arrived in Morelia, we were treated to a delightful tour of the beautiful city. It was very special because of our knowledgeable and gracious guide, Natalia. After starting in the fabulous Jardin de las Rosas, we spent a very satisfying hour in the spectacular Palacio Clavijero museum. We continued on to the Jardin Villalongin, with the fountain of the 3 Tarascas, where we enjoyed seeing some beautiful quinceañeras with their escorts and several wedding parties. Then we ended up with drinks in the lovely Hotel de la Soledad.

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• Morelia treats: corundas & huchepos Morelia treats: corundas & huchepos
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On Sunday we travelled on to Uruapan, again guided by Natalia, and now accompanied by Agustín's sister Yola and her husband Alberto. The famous Fiesta Artesanal (the largest in Latin America!) of Uruapan happens on Palm Sunday. [ http://www.uruapanvirtual.com/acerca.php?item=tianguis-artesanal ] Natalia and her family had specifically invited us so that we could enjoy this event. It is an outpouring of the results of the gifted artisans of Michoacán. We enjoyed not only the beautiful products but also the delicious food, including the characteristic Michoacána dessert for Lent, capirotada.

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• Capirotada Capirotada
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Finally, we walked a few blocks to the spectacular National Park Barranca de Cupatitzio. The park is dominated by the Cupatitzio River, whose name in Purépecha means "river that sings." Even though overrun with Palm Sunday crowds, the park was still a very welcome and relaxing green sanctuary, with many waterfalls and springs, and luscious jungle foliage. Natalia led us from the park to the beautiful Hotel Mansion del Cupatitzio where we joined the rest of the family (Yola, Alberto, and Natalia's sister Claudia and her husband and two children) for drinks and snacks.