Guanajuato–Wanna go?

Where in the world is Guanajuato? By the way, it’s pronounced Wanna Whot Toe. It’s in Central Mexico, northwest of Mexico City and close to San Miguel de Allende. And it might be my favorite city in Mexico.

Alarmingly Charming
Mexico is known for its multicolored, intensely hued choices of house colors (HOA kyptonite), but Guanajuato wins in the most variety contest. The hills are alive with the sounds of color. Indigo blue, aquamarine, Pepto Bismol pink, brick red, chartreuse lime, sunshine yellow, and fire engine red–color magnets for amateur and professional painters’ eyes. Above this radiant display are far off mountains and creamy clouded skies. The mountains are home  to former silver and gold mines founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century.

Guanajuato also wins for the narrowest streets/alleys dating back to colonial time giving it a Romeo and Juliet vibe. Called callejónes ,these alleyways are twisty and climb up the hillside, sometimes so close that balconies facing each other are in arm’s length with many legends about star crossed lovers kissing in secret on those very balconies. At night those twisty alleys and stairways become the backdrop for callejoneadas, group tours led by colorfully costumed troubadours. Singing traditional songs and relating stories and legends with audience participation. At one point the men and the women are separated and when reunited many of the men present their ladies with red roses. All in Spanish most of which I understood, but some of the uproariously “funny” jokes went right over my head. Audience participation is key and our gringo friend was hauled up to perform the irate father whose daughter has just eloped.

 Three museums: High Brow to Low Brow

Museo Iconografico del Quijote
Don Quixote could be considered the patron saint of Guanajuato. So very popular, they have a museum dedicated to Don Quixote, Museo Iconografico del Quijote. There is also an annual festival El Cervantino every October in which international opera, theater, dance, music, and visual arts are presented at venues across the city. While I have not attended, it is on my wish list for my next visit. Such an iconic character has inspired ingenious imaginative art!

Museo Casa Diego Rivera
Ask anyone to name an artist from Mexico and most likely you’ll hear the name Diego Rivera.

Born in Guanajuato, Diego Rivera’s childhood home has been turned into a museum. The bottom floor is a recreation of the family home and the upstairs has the permanent collection. Worth visiting if you love Diego Rivera and, of course, his fellow Mexican painter and wife Frida Kahlo.

Mummy Museum or Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato
Egypt isn’t the only country with mummies. During the 19th and 20th century, a local cemetery in Guanajuato began excavating older bodies after family members defaulted on their deceased relatives’ burial taxes. It was discovered that the bodies were well preserved with skin intact and sometimes even their clothes. So a museum was created to display the bodies. We visited this museum on our honeymoon–the perfect romantic date.  The exhibit includes mummified children and babies and even a mummified fetus. All the mummies’ facial expressions are twisted and grotesque locked in a perpetual scream, so this exhibit is for the stout of heart. We loved it. Now as a much older adult, I wonder about my awed fascination. I haven’t been back since.

From Elizabeth Beyer Villalobos blog Sidetracked. http://www.sidetrackedtravelblog.com/blog/11-essential-things-to-do-in-guanajuato-a-first-timers-guide

More Guanajuato?

The Tunnels
The Guanajuato tunnels are basically streets under the city. They were first constructed to prevent flooding in 1883. Later when traffic became a problem, they were used as a subway system for cars. So underneath the cobblestone alleyways are underground streets.

Funicular
A funicular is a cable car in which one cable car is descending while the other is ascending to balance out the weight. The Funicular Panoramicoo is located behind the Teatro Juarez.

You are magically carted up to the top of Guanajuato where the monument El Pipila (the turkey). An enormous statue of a crippled man who was the unlikely hero of the first victory during the Mexican Independence struggle.

 Getting There: Fly into Guanajuato International Airport (BJX). It’s about an hour’s drive and you can reserve shuttles ahead of time online. We’ve used different companies, and they were comparable. The best part is they drop you right at your door.