The trip back from Las Hadas to Barra de Navidad was truly delightful - sailing wing-on-wing for most of the way with a gentle 10-15 kt wind. We did almost land a couple of fish, however they both got away. We're just not expert at that fishing thing, yet!
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| Anne getting serious about fishing. |
We found ourselves with an extra week to fill while in the Barra de Navidad area in early February. With almost unbearable humidity, a road trip inland and to a higher elevation had been speaking to us! And, to see something different from beach towns would be very appealing. Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende are two
world heritage sites and within an hour of each other that had been
recommended by another boater so off we went. We liked both! They proved to be
culturally and visually interesting and fun. Located in the cooler,
dry hills and just a 10 hour bus ride from Barra, it was worth
the effort. Note: The buses are as comfortable as
first class airline seats but with no boarding hassles. Show up 15
minutes before departure with your ticket and board. Free WiFi, a simple
lunch, movies, and spacious seats.
Guanajuato is quite picturesque, with
colorful houses draping the hillsides. It has a long history of gold and silver mining, so many of the roads into, out of, and through the hillsides are tunneled through solid rock.
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| Guanajuato hillside and tunnel from our hotel |
There are nine magnificent
centuries-old churches, 22 museums, and many statues of historical
significance. After taking a walking tour, we chose three museums to
visit: Museo Casa Diego Rivera, Alhondiga de Granaditas, the
site of the first battle of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, and Ex Hacienda San Gabriel, a former hacienda with a spacious house full of traditional, beautifully carved furnishings from the 1700s surrounded by many kinds of gardens.
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| "Frida" and "Diego" at Diego Rivera museum |
The Mirador offers a panoramic view of Guanajuato:
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| Guanajuato from El Mirador |
The University of
Guanajuato is located in the central district, adding to the vibrancy of the city, and the central district is completely
walkable which gave us a chance to test our sea legs - we covered just about every street and hillside!
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| Street near our hotel |
Our artsy little hotel,
La Casa Azul, was quirky but pretty nice and only a 4-minute walk
down a very narrow hill-street to the small Plaza La Paz, just
opposite the magnificent Basilica from the 1700s, and another 2
minutes to the principal plaza, Jardin de la Union.
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| Jardin La Paz and the Basilica |
Teatro Juarez sits at the head of the plaza. Student musicians and artists entertain along the streets. In the center of Jardin de la Union is a gazebo which frequently accommodates live orchestras or
20-piece bands for free concerts.
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| Brass band in Jardin Union |
Mariachis stroll the
square all day and evening, stopping at cafe tables to play. It's such a
festive, artistic, authentic place! We happened to be there over
Valentine's Day which dominated the day's activities. Students of all ages strolled the streets, flower vendors were on every corner,
couples, friends and families were out for the evening along the square, listening to music. It was a hoppin' mix of
local Mexico with turistas.
We took a bus for a day trip to San
Miguel de Allende, an hour east of Guanajuato. This attractive city
has a very different, more upscale look and feel than Guanajuato.
Where are all the rooftop wires and antennas?
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| Street scene, San Miguel |
It is also picturesque and is Mexico's finest example of Spanish colonial architecture. There is a very ornate baroque-style church from the 1700s next to the main plaza,which is surrounded by narrow, hilly streets lined with colorful, neat, colonial houses and buildings.
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| Parroquia de San Miguel |
A bull-ring (Plaza de Toro) is on the edge of the historic section, however it was not bull-fight season.
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| San Miguel from the Plaza de Toro |
The main plaza was also filled with musicians like Guanajuato.
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| Mariachi band tuning up, San Miguel |
Several thousand U.S. and Canadian
expats live there, dominating the traditional local color. Traditions do exist, however. We saw two weddings celebrated with processions around the
central plaza and got a taste of a festive local custom.
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| Wedding procession in San Miguel |
It was a refreshing and welcome
vacation from our vacation!
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| Street busker in Guanajuato |
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