Guanajuato

Took a day trip last week to the nearby town of Guanajuato, which is the state capital of the region we're in. It's about twice the size of SMA and sits in a pretty little valley nestled in the hills. Like San Miguel, it was founded back in the 16th century as a silver mining town. There are still some active mines in the area, and the city is also the home of the University of Guanajuato - a fairly sizeable institution apparently. Anyway, the presence of all of the students gave the city a younger and more dynamic air than SMA. It's advertised as the "most European" town in Mexico, and we wouldn't dispute that. Lots of winding streets, pretty little parks and plazas, and numerous cafes and restaurants reminded us very much of Siena in Italy...one of our favorite "off the beaten path" places.

Guanajuato also played a key role in the uprising of 1810 which led to the Mexican war of independence from Spain.


Looking down at the centro from a panoramic lookout above the town. The University is the large gray building in the center-left of the photo.



Every intersection had a little plaza with a fountain like this one, along with inviting green spaces with strategically placed benches to sit and relax.




And another.


This is the Callejon de Beso. Local legend has it that two lovers once lived in the homes with the facing balconies, which are located so close to each other that the two could each lean over and share a kiss. The girl's parents disapproved however, and ordered her to end the secret affair. When she persisted the father apparently flew into a rage and killed the girl. Sort of a Mexican version of Romeo and Juliet I suppose.

We really enjoyed the day in Guanajuato, so much in fact that we plan to return on our own this week and spend a couple of days exploring the place at our leisure.


El Charco

We returned to the El Charco botanical gardens the other day to enjoy an early morning hike before the heat of the day set in. Still a nice place to wander around and stretch our legs for a few hours. Had the place almost to ourselves in the AM, at least until the buses started to arrive with organized groups doing tours - and by that time we were ready to leave anyway.


The ruins of the old hacienda in the northern part of the botanical reserve.



A photo op while exploring the hacienda and its grounds.



Even came upon some of the local wildlife while tramping thru the bush. Just behind this group of sheep were some cattle and horses grazing...apparently just left to forage on their own.



The river cuts a small canyon thru here. Back in the Spanish days there was a dam that provided hydraulic power to one of the mines, and later to a factory a little further down the valley.



Cactus, cactus everywhere. Or, put another way, there were more little pricks in this area than there are at an Occupy Wall Street encampment (sorry).

Today is December 12th, which is the feast day of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe - patron of Mexico. Another big dia de fiesta here, so the early morning hours have been punctuated with firecrackers starting at around 0500.