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Among
the fertile volcanoes of Michoacan Mexico lived the Purepecha people,
known as
the Tarascan by the Spanish. Enemies of the Aztecs, the
Tarascans
flourished from 1100 A.D. to 1530 A.D. Patrol of their extensive
frontiers with the Aztecs possibly
aided in developing the first truly territorial state of Mesoamerica.
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Precious
Tarascan children... curious about the strangers in their village.
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We
gave away a van full of clothing to the Tarascan children in
Michoacan
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Tarascan women love
flowers and decorate their homes where ever they can. Most
flowers are suspended above ground level to prevent the dogs from
watering them.
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This
is a traditional Tarascan supper; made from whole eggs (shelled) stewed in tomatoes,
Ancho peppers, onions, traditional spices and chilies, and cooked over a wood
fire. I can honestly say, it was one of the most delicious dishes I've had in Mexico.
The herbs and spices were
fresh from her garden, and the eggs from her laying hens.
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I
noticed quite a bit of this beautiful Indigo blue and gold Indian Corn
drying around the house. The lady of
the house took note of my curiosity...
and the next thing I knew...
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Senora
ground some of the dried Indian Corn and hand-made fresh tortillas to add to the wonderful meal of stewed eggs. She cooked the
fragrant blue corn tortillas
on this adobe platter on an open wood fire. They were perfect! I have
never tasted any other tortillas as delicious as these... and I've eaten a lot of tortillas.
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A gracious family that
allowed me to stay in their home. With their assistance
we were able to saturate the neighborhood with Spanish Bibles. They were
also
able to direct us to the most needy near-by villages for our distribution
of clothing.
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Only the steeple remains
above the 40-foot-deep flow of black lava from Pericutin.
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Looking
out through a hole in the lava from deep within the covered-over church.
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An altar
located within the lava covered church.
Built by local families in remembrance of their
loved ones that died during the eruption of Pericutin.
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In route to the village of
Angahuan on horseback
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Also
see:
Huichol Indians of Mexico
Coire
Indians of Mexico
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