"Paricutin" a Mexico Travel Page by NedHopkins

In 1944 the ground erupted under Paricutin, a village north of Uruapan, Mexico. Lava destroyed the town and land for miles around.

But the lava stopped just below an image of the Virgin that had topped the church.

A miracle!

From the new Paricutin you can walk (or ride a horse) to see the miraculously preserved image.

But don't get on my horse (if it's still alive). The nag was fine till it started to rain. Then it wouldn't move. I got drenched.

Happily a local took me into his hut; his wife dried my clothes over the open fire.

Most of the locals, by the way, speak Nahuatl. I communicated through a Spanish-speaking companion to a self-described "wetback" who then talked to the locals in their tongue.