michoacan lies 'left' of mexico-city. for an overview of mexico, please follow the link.
we had a few days of traveling around michoacan. one of the most precious places we got to see, was the 'vulcano de paricutin'. it's got an interesting sory too.
in 1943 (no mistake, it was this century), a paesant, while working his fiels, was surprised by the ground opening up. any attempt to intervene was worthless, so he fled.
the just born vulcano rose more the 410 meters above its surounding grounds. it erupted for more then 9 yaers until 1953. the aerea was darkened by the fumes. the lavastreems covered two entire towns, of which one gave its name to the vulcano. what a celebrity it was at that time!
the most atractive place in the vulcanos surrounding today is the half covered cathedral of san juan parangaricutiro in the middle of the lavafield., which can only be reached after an hour long horse ride.
© nikolai packard, reichenau, july 2000 mail an mich ;-)