As I walked very slowly huffing and puffing, I was dismayed at how quickly I had gotten out of shape, until I found out that the elevation here is almost 7,000 feet! No wonder I’m out of breath! Not sure if I’ll be running here anytime soon. Although maybe I could give those Kenyans who train in Tahoe a run for their money! Back to GTO (as locals affectionately refer to it as)…
Guanajuato is a world heritage site and is popular with Mexican tourists but not gringos. There are a zillion museums, plazas everywhere you look, something like 33 churches and many cobblestone streets and alleys. GTO was a silver mining town during colonial times and seems very European. Some cool sites:
Jardin de Union - is beautiful garden right in the middle of town and almost every night they have music on Sunday the local symphony and marching band played. Most nights its traditional music and the park is FILLED with people dancing and listening. If you look at the video its that funny triangle garden.
El Pipila - a huge statue that overlooks the city is in honor of a miner who was critical in the first war of independence.
Just wandering around I’ve counted 3 theaters and street performers including mimes, mariachis, and musicians are everywhere.
La Universidad - was a Jesuit University started in 1732.
Besos! (kisses!) Many of the side streets are narrow with steps, the most famous is the most narrow - the balconies are so close that if you are one you could easily reach across (or kiss someone) the alley to the other one . legend has it that a very wealthy family with a daughter lived in one and in the other a poor miner. They used to meet on the their respective balconies and kiss. Long story short (and similar to Romeo & Juliet) the father of the girl finds out and eventually kills her. Now rumor has it that if you go past the 3rd step without kissing someone you will have 7 years of bad luck! They are very superstitious here, so I’m not going to tempt fate and I Haven’t gone past the 3rd step.
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