Morelia, Mexico (December 2023)

Morelia is the capital city of the State of Michoacan. We stayed in Morelia for two nights. We visited Tzintzuntzan and Patzcuaro for the first day and we explored Morelia for the second day. Morelia was a bustling city with a population of one million inhabitants.  

The most iconic landmark of Morelia is the Morelia Cathedral. This was originally meant for Mexico City, but its soft soil could not withstand the weight and was built in Morelia instead. I was able to take day and night photos of it from different angles. 

In the surrounding area of the Cathedral were many restaurants and cafes. Also, tour buses were departing and ending their tours at Alameda Park next to the Cathedral. We saw the statue of Benito Juarez who led the Mexican Reform Movement.

In the surrounding area, I saw a statue of Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote. 

We stopped by a local market where we tasted various candies. Morelia is well known for its leather products along with the regional garment products.

One thing I also learned was that monarch butterflies migrate from the north to Michoacan area every year. There is a reserve called Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve that was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They return to the north in the spring. While we were moving in the bus, I saw a group of monarch butterflies flying over us. It was too quick to take a photo, but here is one borrowed from Google. They fly up to 3,000 miles each way and that is amazing! Indeed, the power of life is strong and resilient. 

Our short stay in Morelia was pleasant and gave us a good memory. 

Our next destination is Guadalajara. - Jeffrey