Mariposas

Josh and I traveled this past weekend with our friends Liam, who is here working for the U.S. Consulate, and Meghan, who is working for NPR from afar to stay in the beautiful colonial city of Morelia, located in the heart of Michoacán (a state that borders Jalisco).

We spent a day wandering the city plazas and saw balloon vendor after vendor being sought after for gifts for loved ones. The buildings were grandiose, including an incredibly ornate cathedral dating back to the 1700's, beautiful convents and government buildings dating back to the 1500's, and a music conservatory in an impressive stone building that once housed widows and orphans. The city is saturated with European influences due to the occupation by the Spanish in the 1500's. This was all in great contrast to our experience in an indigenous pueblo a few days prior.

On Sunday we hopped in a van with five others and our tour guide named Carlos and drove three hours to a butterfly sanctuary called "El Rosario." Each year millions of butterflies migrate from the great lakes states and Canada down to this location in México for warmth, food and to mate. They all stay concentrated in small sections of the mountains and stick with each other for more warmth. We hiked up toward the top of the mountain, which was around 10,000 feet and were completely surrounded by fluttering magnificence. This is your preview... movie to be released by tomorrow. Please stay posted.

Lunch being prepared at the little 'cafe' we visited after our hike.

Liam and Meghan at lunch