More from Semana Santa Mexico 09

Today, like all other days, in the Villa Patzcuaro RV park there is an alpine quiet. The air is crisp with pine trees standing at attention. The only chatter we hear is from the birds and the occasional passing car. There are 7 rigs camped hooked up and five of us know each other from Sayulita. Ron and Jill are still with us. They surprised us in Melaque and the four of us plus poochies have been cruising the Michoacan coast and inland towns for the past two weeks. People are starting to move north and the notion is that peace and quiet will reign.

We have seen, experienced and eaten so much it's impossible to relate it all. The beach scene was beautiful on the drive south. We popped in to most of the surfing spots on the way towards Lazero Cardenas but opted to camp in more organized RV spots. The Rancho Buganvilla is a new camp ground about a mile south of La Placita. The owners are from Southern California and it is a clean friendly place to camp. The draw back, and it is a big one, it is a 5 to 10 minute walk down through the jungle to the beach. It's worth the hike though, the beach is long, clean and deserted. Farther down the coast we pulled into a government owned campground. Tizupan is an oasis on the highway. Swimming pool, ocean, bungalows on the beach, 10 back in full hook ups for RV's and a palapa restaurant are literally situated right on the Mex 200. It was a wacky but wonderful place to hang for a couple of nights. Kind of like a McDonalds play land on a major interstate.

Winding our way through the mountains as we hugged the coast our next stop was Las Penas. Spent a night at a very funky place over looking the ocean, again it was a trek down to the beach but the reward was one of the best mariscos meals we've eaten in Mexico. Enramada Gonzales is the first shack on the left as you enter the beach. The four of us and pups sat at a table sipping refrescos, chatting and watching the full moon on the water while waiting for our two appetizers. There was more then enough camerones with all the fixings plus civiche to create delicious tostadas and leave us all rubbing our tummies as we sauntered back up the hill and into the hammocks that are hung on the terrace.

Critical mass hit on Thursday; we witnessed in Playa Azul a continues stream of traffic coming down from the mountains and spilling onto the sand faster then you could say Semana Santa. It was time to head for the hills. We drove a beautiful toll road up to Uruapan, set up camp in the parking lot of an upscale resort, let the dogs run for a while and then got a taxi and hit the town. The main square was set up with an artisan crafts fair that only takes place during Easter. I love it there; strolling and looking at all the wares, the variety of food and the mix of people is a welcome change.

On Easter we took the truck and the four of us drove up to Patzcauro; a bit like lake Tahoe but only tropical, It sits at 7,000 ft above sea level and is a colonial town much like Carmel or Santa Barbara but with out the high prices and tourists. We had a lovely walk around the small square where we found a street side cafe. Sipping a latte and nibbling on a cookie we all agreed that Patzcauro is a tranquil place. When we returned to Uruapan the canons were still going off in honor of Easter and there was a huge party in the hotel with music that could be heard all the way to Mexico City. Snap decision, we packed it up and high tailed it back to Patzcauro and into a simple little RV park outside of town which is now our home for a night or a week. There is lots to see, laid out like any European city with quaint streets leading to big public spaces, cobble stone alleys that open onto a garden or patio with little shops we are keeping very entertained. The big open mercado, cafes and a mix of people make for a wonderful change of pace from bathing suits and flip flops.

Ron and JT have both made mention how nice it would be to wake up on the beach. I feel there is change in the air and we will be driving down the mountain and back to the sea very soon.

We will be in the Patzcuaro area another night or two which means we have wi-fi with pretty decent connection then it's hit and miss until we're back on the beach.

The last photo is of Frida B and me taking a siesta.