This photo summarizes my reflections on this fabulous adventure!  Many thanks to Frank for capturing this moment.

What do I see in this photo?  I’m exploring a Purépechan village, on an organized tour with friends, while enjoying photography!

I didn’t know what to expect on this trip.  Tricia sent out the email; I responded.  End of story.  Right?  Wrong!  I had “technically” been to Mexico five previous times:  Tijuana with my family as a kid; Ensenada on a weekend cruise as a young adult; Guaymas in my twenties with Club Med; Loreto with Joel and Tricia just before the pandemic; and touching the cliffs across the Rio Grande on my cross country adventure.  (Hey, I said “technically!” 🙂 ) 

This trip, though, was completely different.  First, it was an organized tour, so I didn’t have to make any decisions about what to do or when to do it.  Given my frustration losing my wallet in Ghent, Belgium, when traveling solo in September, not having the stress of making decisions was a nice change! Second, we explored indigenous villages, showcasing Purépechan culture.  Having never been to any villages in Mexico, the people, customs, and crafts mesmerized me.  Third, this was a private tour with eight participants, all of whom I knew to at least some degree before the adventure began.  We got along really really well.  For example, in the van, we rotated seats.  I enjoyed having a new seat buddy on each journey; what a wonderful way to get to know each other better.

To say that I loved connecting with the Purépechan people I met would be an understatement!  I know – deep into my bones, into my very essence – that we are more alike than we are different.  That we all want the same things – health for our loved ones, a sense of community, some moments of joy.  I saw this. I experienced this.  I witnessed this.  Family, friends, togetherness.  Health, community, joy.  Add in some creativity, good food, lots to drink:  perfect!

I had a blast taking photos!  As shown in the photo above, I captured scenes from many angles.  Kneeling on the ground?  Climbing up walls?  Shooting through holes in gates?  Yep!  Going through my photos, especially to organize them for this blog, proved a challenge.  Some of my photos are typical tourist pics, which of course I want to help me remember this adventure.  Others, though, are more…creative.  I love taking pictures of and through windows, doors, and arches.  I tried to use composition techniques I learned in my photography class.  Sometimes they worked out; other times they did not.  Regardless, I had so much fun taking photos!  My favorites…hm…I culled through them and came up with these eight.  (I can’t believe I got it down to eight!)

I’m going to start with the one photo I have not posted elsewhere… This candid photo of Tricia, smiling and leaning against a wall, with a girl in front of her, smiling and also leaning against a wall, shows so much happiness, togetherness, and relaxation.  This is truly one of my very favorite photos – ever!

This photo tells a complete story of love, support, and tradition: the woman’s arms around her boy while he holds onto the rope to counterbalance the weight of the skirts his mother, grandmother, and aunts are putting on him.

The joy on this little girl’s face as she shows me the bottle caps she’s playing with!

A photo telling the story of the pastorela – mask, community, and tequila!

This photo guides the viewer’s eyes from the lines of the pyramid to the far-off lake, sharing the story of both the human-built pyramids of Tzintzuntzan and the natural waters of Lake Pátzcuaro.

Colors, textures, and a doorway:  I love it!

In this photo, the lines of the pews guide the viewer to look outside the doors.