See the video on Youtube: Mexico 1989: Exploring beautiful Uruapan and surrounding towns

We travelled to the town of Uruapan, Michoacan by way of the colonial town of Morelia. Arrangements with the Motel Pie de la Sierra were made in advance in the states from a guidebook. In 2024 I Google searched this same motel and found that it not only still exists but looks like a four-star luxury resort. We found the motel pleasant and from our second story balcony found the grounds enchanting. That first day we made our way to the center of town to explore and do shopping.

The next few days in Uruapan we spent on planned excursions that took us through the surrounding towns such as Tingambato and Patzcuardo. On Saturdays the center of these towns become marketplaces. Many of the items we picked up are still with us today.

That first night at the Motel Pie de la Sierra we settled into our room. I had read in the guidebook that a “little fellow” from the motel came into the author’s room and started a fire. I went to the front desk and asked about this “little fellow.” They said he’d be right up to start our fire. Poor kid probably had no idea he’d be given such a task and it wasn’t the origianl “little fellow.” The young man arrives and places a monstrous pile of wood in the fireplace. The wood is piled and touches the top of the fireplace and he lights it and leaves. The wood ignites into a mass of fire and smoke. We were smoked out of the room laughing. I took the picture of it below.