Remembering Patzcuaro

I thoroughly enjoyed Christopher Reynolds’ fine article on Patzcuaro, and I reminisced about a Christmas vacation car trip to Mexico with my family when I was 11.

My favorite and most memorable place was Patzcuaro, especially when we went to Janitzio Island on a small boat. I was entranced by the many fishermen using their lovely butterfly-shaped nets. Apparently they were not aware that we tourists would dish out tips. For the most part, no one held out upturned palms except for three colorfully dressed Tarascan girls, who sang a song for us in their dialect, then happily accepted our coins. Then my two sisters and I sang for them in English, which fascinated them. When our guide asked whether they were going to give us money, they ran away giggling.

It sounds as though things have changed a bit in the ensuing 50 years.

JAN GITSTEIN

Alhambra