Morelia World Heritage Site

By Liliana Rodriguez Before the Spanish Conquer, the region that is now Morelia was known as Guayangareo valley and it was inhabited by a native group called the pirindas. The city was founded in 1541, but it received de name of Valladolid until 1577. In 1582, it replaced Patzcuaro as Capital of the Province of Mechoacan. During the 17th century Morelia experienced a period of growth and development; the convents of San Francisco and San Agustin were built during the first years, then the ones of El Carmen, La Merced…

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Foreigner´s Will in Michoacan

Mexico´s formal name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United Mexican States). The United Mexican States are a federation of thirty-one free, sovereign, autonomous and independent states, and the Federal District. All states have the right to create their own constitution. Mexico City is the Federal District, seat of the government (powers of the Union) and capital of the United Mexican States. The city is coextensive with the Federal District territorially and administratively. If the federal government moves to another city, the Federal District would be transformed into another state of the…

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Morelia the Cultural Jewel in Michoacan

By Lucille Arneson When I decided to retire, I knew I wanted some kind of an adventure offering different prospects of activity. When in college, I studied French; it seemed a natural, as after all, I was an art major and in love with the French Impressionists! When I moved to California and encountered the Spanish Missions built by Friar Junipero Serra, I found another love; this time in Spanish! I had one of those “déjà vu” moments that made me think I’d been there before. It was a very…

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Reflections on living with violence in Mexico

By Linda Pierce, As I write this, I hear the sound of helicopters overhead from my house 2 blocks from the main plaza in Morelia. It is been a frequent sound all day today, a not surprising sound after explosions last night at El Grito celebration in the main plaza, resulting in a reported 8 deaths and about 100 wounded. As Jennifer Rose opined in her blog , Morelia lost its innocence last night. We spent several hours at El Grito celebration last night, but didn´t have the stamina to…

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Mexatua Tour Day 2: Discovering Zirahuen

By Lucille Arneson Zirahuén Forest and Resort After a Continental breakfast at the Hotel Xandesti, we set out for our second day exploring the area, first going to the Zirahuén Forest and Resort. The only quick and easy way to get there is by boat across the deep blue, clean waters of Lake Zirahuén, a most beautiful lake, surrounded by forests of many shades of green. While bobbing in the boat, we were treated to soft drinks and marshmallows. I chose a Coca Cola, because of its ability to quiet…

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Talk to me about retiring in Mexico

Read a lot of comments from foreigners living in the Patzcuaro and Morelia area. Below are comments and thoughts from people that I have had the honor to meet. A lot of them are my friends. Thank you again to all! My husband and I retired to Patzcuaro from Lake Oswego, Oregon in August, 2007. We came to Patzcuaro on a scouting expedition 18 months before we moved, fell in love with the area, and feel exactly the same today. Our view was that retirement would get off to a…

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