Our trip to discover a place to move, was just filled with so many sights and sounds. It was a pure joy of beauty to drive through this country. Our weather was rain off and on so the pictures are not real sharp and clear. These are our trip pictures of the landscape/
Michoacan has quite a history that goes back to the time of legends. Before the Spanish came, there were people that lived here from various parts of the world. Americans lump them into three groups usually - the Aztec, the Mayan, and the Incas. But the reality is that there were many other types of indigenous people here. Also the Aztec's did conquer many of these tribes and their territory became under the rule of the Aztec empire. However, the "captured" territory with its people did not really consider themselves Aztec - as in born Aztec. They had to pay tribute to the Aztec nation and most of these conquered lands and people did not like that and did not really homor the leader of the Aztec nation...other than being made to honor him by way of working and paying him to live on their own land. Such "Aztec" people were located around Lake Chapala area.
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I was just amazed that these houses were built like this on the hill side. Wonder what it is like in the heavy rains.? |
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This is a road that leads into avocado fields. The picture below is also of avocados. They plant the avocado fields in and among the forest. Why? Well there could be lots of reasons. This location was very high up and I would think that the temperature gets quite cold. But with-in a forest, the other trees would protect the avocado field and also give warmth. Maybe they just deforest the forest of trees in certain locations with still having forest around them as a use of land without people know what is growing in the forest? But if I could see them so could the government folks - I just do not know the logic for the location of this area in the forest. However I will tell you that it took about an hour drive to drive through hills and hills of avocado fields. I have never seen so many avocados. |
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Just walking to work and carrying your work with you |
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This guy may have been on his way to work also, I do not really know. However he was none too happy about moving off to the side of the road. |
The real definitions and descriptions about the indigenous people who established themselves in Michoacan is best left up to the learned people of ancient times. From what I have studies, there seems to be about three different groups of people who all lived in the Michoacan area and that formed the Tarascan. The name Tarascan was a name that the Aztec's give to the Purhepechans. The Aztec Indians in Chapala area fought with the Indians (Tarascan's) from Lake Patzcuaro.
The Tarascan nation was never defeated by the Aztec nation. The Tarascan's were know to be the better of the two warriors and highly respected and feared by the Aztecs. The Spanish conquered the the Tarascan empire first and that frightened the Aztec leader.
This map shows the Aztec empire and location that other peoples lived.
Tlaxcallan (the main location for the Aztec empire) was a giant place and required a lot of supplies to maintain the established empire. When Cortes marched on his way to Tlaxcallan he used the dislike that some of the "captured" tribes had about paying the tributes to the Aztec's to gain help in reaching the core of the Aztec empire.
Lots of the Indians kept their culture and ways. Most do not want to be part of the Mexican nation. Mexico has one of the largest and most diverse indigenous populations in Latin America. Although the country has recognized the existence of and contributions made by indigenous peoples in the construction of the country, it was only with the 1992 Constitution that the nation was deemed pluri-cultural.
The indigenous population numbers 12.7 million people and that is about 13 percent of the national population, speaking 62 languages between them.
When I first came to Mexico, I just thought that all the Mayan's and Aztec people had been killed and that those religions and nations no longer existed. I was very wrong.
To me it seems that any town that has a strong indigenous population has a different quality, a different feeling that has to do with honesty and trust. That is just my impression. Also I have felt that the towns with less indigenous people (more Mexican) accept the "non-Mexican" population easier than the indigenous people do.
If a person is thinking about moving to Mexico because the living is less expensive than in the states, they need to understand that they will not be happy unless they are willing to learn and be assimilated into the culture. If money is the only reason you wish to come - stay home. If you want to learn, understand where you are and be ready to change your way of thinking - acting - your life really then you will have the time of your life. You have to be open and welcoming to the fact that you are living in someone else's country. You are a visitor and until you join into the culture, you will always just be here on a visit - a holiday, you will not really be living here in Mexico.
The Tarascan nation was never defeated by the Aztec nation. The Tarascan's were know to be the better of the two warriors and highly respected and feared by the Aztecs. The Spanish conquered the the Tarascan empire first and that frightened the Aztec leader.
This map shows the Aztec empire and location that other peoples lived.
Tlaxcallan (the main location for the Aztec empire) was a giant place and required a lot of supplies to maintain the established empire. When Cortes marched on his way to Tlaxcallan he used the dislike that some of the "captured" tribes had about paying the tributes to the Aztec's to gain help in reaching the core of the Aztec empire.
Lots of the Indians kept their culture and ways. Most do not want to be part of the Mexican nation. Mexico has one of the largest and most diverse indigenous populations in Latin America. Although the country has recognized the existence of and contributions made by indigenous peoples in the construction of the country, it was only with the 1992 Constitution that the nation was deemed pluri-cultural.
The indigenous population numbers 12.7 million people and that is about 13 percent of the national population, speaking 62 languages between them.
When I first came to Mexico, I just thought that all the Mayan's and Aztec people had been killed and that those religions and nations no longer existed. I was very wrong.
To me it seems that any town that has a strong indigenous population has a different quality, a different feeling that has to do with honesty and trust. That is just my impression. Also I have felt that the towns with less indigenous people (more Mexican) accept the "non-Mexican" population easier than the indigenous people do.
If a person is thinking about moving to Mexico because the living is less expensive than in the states, they need to understand that they will not be happy unless they are willing to learn and be assimilated into the culture. If money is the only reason you wish to come - stay home. If you want to learn, understand where you are and be ready to change your way of thinking - acting - your life really then you will have the time of your life. You have to be open and welcoming to the fact that you are living in someone else's country. You are a visitor and until you join into the culture, you will always just be here on a visit - a holiday, you will not really be living here in Mexico.
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