OUR TRIP TO PATZCUARO

Patzcuaro is by Merila in the state of Michoaan.  The location is about four hour drive from where we live is San Antonio.  At least that is what I was told.

I have to let you know about driving in Mexico.  It is a very unique experience.  There are left turn lanes on the far right lane from the center and you can also turn left from the center lane.  

You can be on the road that you think is number 35 and all of a sudden there is a sign that tells you the road your on is number 115.  However if you stay on the road, it will then tell you it is number 35.  The truth is that the road is both at those locations.  

The money that the country puts into the roads is not a lot so there are pot holes that you have to watch out for as well as the cars coming directly at you down the middle of the road, who are also trying to avoid the pot holes.

Speed bumps are everywhere and most of them are unmarked, so at 60 miles per hour you do quite a job on your tires.  Also the markings on the road.  Straight sold line would indicate that there is no passing.  But not really.  People pass over that line all the time.  Oh and they also pass on the right without a lane.  

You may or may not see the town listed on the overhead directional signs on the roads and you will see towns listed on the overheads that are not on the map you have in your lap - guaranteed. 

The four hour trip took me 10 hours.  But that was 10 hours in some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen.  

 We took this trip to look at a house that was for rent.  When I want information about an area, I go to the web and look for an expat forum in that location.  That is what I did.  I wrote to the people on the Michoacan forum and asked if anyone knew about rentals in this area.  Sure enough I had responses and contacted this one that I thought we could be interest in.
To my surprise, the man who owned the property told me to come to his home and we would be his guest for the weekend.  I went back to the blog and asked if anyone knew him.  Was told that he was wonderful so I accepted his invitation.
Because I took so long in getting there, it was dark when we arrived and directions got very confusing .  I was so tired that I just got a hotel and spent the night.  

Mexican beds are not the same as American beds.  Usually, the hotels have a cement raised slab with one mattress on top.  If you are lucky, you get a wood bed frame with wood slats going across and then a mattress.  Either way it is not your sleep with the pillow top comfort.  But I did not care, I was just so tired I was asleep in no time.

In the morning I send an email to the man and he then showed up at the hotel to have me follow him to his place.  I never would have found it alone.  This is his house.

This is the road to his home and to the rental property

the front of his home

pizza oven

his yard as well as his garden with the guest house behind the fruit trees, a chicken coup and a green house down the hill.

side patio leading to the guest house

This is his artist studio/ above a shot from the house and below a look inside the studio.

The bottom of the house has two apartments and a small home.

the above is his patios.

Now to see the house for rent.  Rent is 511.00 USD a month. Two bed/two bath

the north wall is adobe 

from the roof of the house 

We did not take the house but we will be back because we made some extremely good developing friendships.  The man who owned the property is also a Realtor and his wife a lender.  Since I did both we connected on a business level.  He designed these houses and had them built for a project to provide money that will help his grandson.  His grandson is 2.5 years old and is Autistic.  OK that did it for me.  Since Ken is disabled and I have worked with disabled children since I started volunteering at the age of 14 - I was able to talk with this man about his concerns on a different level than most people could.  He also is an artist and I play with paint.  He wants to grow his own stuff and so do I.  We just connected on so many different levels that I am sure my future will include he and his wife.  While our trip did not find a place to live, it was truly worth while.