Visiting Guanajuato (2011 - 03/24)

On Tuesday Rick and I decided to get on a bus and go to Guanajuato, a town approximately an hour and fifteen minutes from San Miguel de Allende. We'd stayed there for 3 nights in 2009, had fond memories of that time, and were interested in going back. But more importantly, we wanted to experience what they call "luxury" or first class bus travel in México.

Per instructions from some gals in my yoga class, we went to a travel agency in el Centro to purchase tickets. This was important because the young woman at the agency spoke fairly good English, and was able to help us with schedules and in choosing a bus company to travel with. Primera Plus, rated #1 along with ETN, had the most scheduling flexibility, so we went with them.

There was a bus leaving at 1 p.m. and since we had an hour to get to Centro de Autobuses, we hopped on a city bus. 5 pesos apiece (about 80 cents), got us there. Now traveling by city bus is cheap and, for us, was a novelty. But...the seats are small, the buses are very hot (especially if you end up on the sunny side, like we did), and it's an almost constant stop and go. By the time we arrived at the bus station, we decided that we'd definitely be taking a taxi home at the end of our adventure. 

Our bus to Guanajuato was very nice. The seats, which tilted back, had footrests. Each seat had a set of headphones we could use to listen to music, or to hear the movie which was playing on small screens throughout the cabin. Rick chose to watch Bruce Willis, and I was as happy as a clam checking out the mountains and countryside and drinking my complimentary Pepsi Light, while dialing through 6 channels of música Méxicana.

Guanajuato is a really cool town, and I'd love to tell you about it's history and uniqueness. However, I simply don't have the time. Instead, I've included photos I took while there, with simple explanations beneath each. If you have an interest in learning more, you can always google Guanajuato. There's lot of information online about this fascinating town. 

Although the above photo looks forbidding, it's not as scary as it seems. Below the city is a series of tunnels built for flooding many years before a dam was constructed. Since flooding is no longer an issue, the tunnels are now used for traffic and for pedestrians. We (and many others) got off the bus in this tunnel, headed for the main area, or "el centro".

We followed the crowd up the stairs towards "el centro", but not before I shot this 

photo of the tunnel we had just emerged from.

Rick was quickly able to acclimate himself, and soon we were in front of Teatro Juaréz
one of the jewels found in el centro. It's an historically famous opera house where Enrico Caruso, the Italian tenor, once sang. Rick and I toured it two years ago, and it's absolutely gorgeous inside. You can see that the steps have many people on it. Guanajuato is a 
college town, and there are always students congregating on these steps.

A photo of Rick sitting in the lovely restaurant where we had lunch. It was actually 
one of the most fabulous meals we've had this trip, which is saying a lot. We chose arrachero (skirt steak) tacos, which came with frijoles, guacamole, cebollos (onions), pico de galla y dos salsas (2 sauces). It was all really yummy, and we left feeling pleasantly full!!!

The main church in the center of town. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name, but I
guess it doesn't really matter.  As you can see on the left, there is a 
manicured park with benches to sit on.
 At the end of the street that you see on the right, is Teatro Juaréz, the opera house.

Guanajuato is a lively, energetic town full of college students. It is a tradition for the young people to parade down the streets on the weekend evenings, singing joyful, lively tunes. 
I had the pleasure of experiencing this from our balcony when we stayed in Guanajuato two years ago (Rick was already in bed). I loved it, and would have joined them if I was braver.

Ricardo is at the bottom of the steps of one of the university buildings. Wouldn't it be 

interesting to know how many steps there are? It doesn't look architecturally accessible,
but it sure is pretty. 

The streets of Guanajuato remind us of Italy. Although this photo doesn't do it justice,
I like it anyway. You can see the narrow cobblestone streets with the flagstone sidewalks, 

and the beautiful church at the end of the road. 

I took this photo simply because I was amused at the name above the door - 
the "Ha! Ha! Cafeteria". These young men may have been amused as well.

The churches in this part of México have life sized, clothed statues and,  
at first glance, often appear real. 

Above is a photo of a (not-quite-life-sized) statue in a glass case, 
depicting the passion of Christ.

This old, old, old, huge, huge, huge Cathedral in Guanajuato is one of 

the most beautiful churches I've ever visited in my entire life. And I've been to a lot!!!
The Spanish apparently spared no cost in converting México to Catholicism.

Rick and I were heavily involved in the Marriage Encounter movement back
in the 80's,  and thus have a special place in our hearts for 
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza,  from "Man of La Mancha" .

Above you can see statues of these characters, about 3-4 times the size of life.

(as a size reference, notice the two strangers who happen to be standing between the figures)

A very picturesque photo of a street in Guanajuato, complete with a 

beautiful tree in bloom,  and brightly colored houses on the hillside beyond. 
They are so pretty that they almost don't look real. This town is very European-like.

Teatro Cervantes, a beautiful stone theater located next to the area where

the statues of  Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are located. This 
theater is obviously dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes
the author of  the 17th century masterpiece, "Don Quixote".

Well, it's back to the bus station and time to go home after a wonderful few hours. The bus to San Miguel isn't in yet, but above is a photo of two buses from the same line. Pretty snazzy!
...and a great time was had by all...¡Hasta luego!