Subject: Patzcuaro 3 of 3
We went back to the same place for breakfast but didn't sit outside... it was too cold, even in the sun. And besides, the decor is so interesting in this restaurant. There were wonderful paintings everywhere but I liked the dead guy in the corner. (He looks like Mike felt later in the day, unfortunately.) I also thought their doors to the kitchen were unique! Good food and I had cappucino both days. Why don't I have that more often?.... it's so good. And the fresh squeezed o.j. - great stuff.
There was some sort of pep rally or homecoming dance or big game or something going on and the local kids were doing a parade like thing around the plaza. I took tons of photos and they really hammed it up for me in some. They got sorta rowdy by the end and were spraying stuff on each other and having a ball. While we were standing on the street corner watching the kids, a woman came up to us and spoke to us in English. A first for Patzcuaro! She thanked us for coming to her country and told us to let people know that it's really a good place. We let her know that we totally agreed and that we try to pass the word along to those who will listen. She loves America and spent some time in San Francisco where she learned to speak English very well.
In the course of conversation she told us that she has an apartment that she rents to American's. We wanted to know more and she offered to let us see it. It was right upstairs above her family shoe store which is at street level right on the Plaza Vasco de Quiroga. What an interesting place. Polonesa told us that her grandfather owned a huge portion of the 400 year old building we were entering until he died at age 111. Her grandmother then sold off much of the historical property. She explained that since it was a historical sort of relic, there were certain things that were not to be touched if any renovations were done. She said that "they" check on you and you'd better not break the rules. The cat on the stairway, she said, is in magazines. It's protected. I wish I'd been able to get a better photo of it. And the door to the apartments (there are two - hers and the one for the rental) are ancient and cannot be replaced. They still must use the original giant keys to open the gates and door to the place. Quite a bit to carry in today's little purses or pockets!! The apartment looks out over the plaza and is brand new inside. It's sorta dark because "they" won't let you put in any windows. Which would be tough anyway since the walls are about three feet thick, truly. There are two main rooms and they're both very large. The bathroom is really nice. Two double beds, TV and couch, all the stuff you'd need in the kitchen. It would be so cool to stay there for a month...... and for only $550! We checked and we could park our camper at our hotel parking lot for about $50. Heck, we're paying $500 a month to park our camper here in Zihuatanejo! Anyway, if anyone wants the information, we can tell you how to get in touch with Polonesa. In the photos, the balcony is the one on the right above the van.
We walked around a bit more and then decided it was time to head out. We wanted to visit Santa Clara del Cobre Tacambaro - the copper town. Cobre is copper in Spanish. It's about a 20 minute drive and is even higher in elevation than Patzcuaro. Lots of pine trees which you don't expect in Mexico. Very beautiful area. We walked the town for about an hour and did a little more shopping and actually bought a copper sink for our bathroom at home. I don't know what copper sinks cost in Hawaii but we paid about $35 for this one! Amazing. The guys making the objects said that one of the vases takes them five days to complete. Beautiful stuff.
And the last picture is one taken from the truck on the way back to Zihuatanejo. They sell all kinds of stuff here but I thought this was one of the most unusual combinations I'd seen!!
Anyway, Mike is sleeping. He had a rough night and he's tired. I was going to say pooped but that might not have been a very good choice of words just now. He came down with a bit of "tourista" yesterday on the way back and is still recovering. Poor guy.
Good news is that he's got his temporary crown on and it doesn't hurt. The dentist will see him again tomorrow and check things out one last time (we hope) and the new crown will be installed on Friday. Then we are free to go. Whew!
So that's what's going on with us...... hope all is well out there with all of you. We may be out of touch once we leave here in a few days..... but I keep saying that and somehow the internet comes through. Anyway, next stop, Acapulco!
Aloha,
Gayle and Mike
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