Guanajuato is GuanaWOWto
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAT HENDERSON
When I booked two days in Guanajuato as an add-on to a
Mexico trip I did with A Closer Look Tours at the end of January,
I was excited to finally get to explore one of central Mexico’s
colonial cities. I’d seen the compelling photos, read the glowing
reviews and even sung its praises on the pages of Courier.
I had high expectations, but ... wow. From its friendly locals
and always-buzzing street life to its brightly painted houses
dotting the hills overlooking the city center, Guanajuato
delighted in so many ways.
The majority of my first day consisted of two things: hav-
ing no real idea where I was going and loving every minute of
it. As I walked along the serpentine pathways, I discovered a
seemingly endless series of colorful buildings, ornate churches
and bustling markets. Every new turn revealed another gem.
My roaming on the second day was punctuated by many
stops for street cuisine. I started with a fresh-squeezed guava
and watermelon shake, which paired better than you’d expect
with my flaky apple pastry. Other finds included cheese que-
sadillas with a kicky verde sauce, roasted sunflower seeds,
a spicy ear of corn and a chocolate-infused churro; clearly it
was a good thing I walked 15-20 miles during my stay.
One of the most enduring memories came after a late-night
meal on Jardin Union. During dinner on the large plaza, I had
noticed a mixture of mariachis and costumed minstrels (think
Elizabethan England) milling about, some strumming their
instruments, others checking their cell phones.
As I was paying the bill, I could hear music and cheering in
the distance. I followed the sounds and joined a group or 25
or so that had gathered around a fun-loving band of the min-
strels. Their songs and banter had everyone laughing and clap-
ping along, and they closed by marching out of the square.
As our pack followed them up a narrow alleyway, I was
struck by how that moment pretty perfectly encapsulated the
joyous feeling and carefree spirit I’d enjoyed throughout my
all-too-brief time in Guanajuato.
To see additional photos of Guanajuato, go to
tinyurl.com/y8457zve.
To learn more about packages featuring
Guanajuato and other colonial cities,
contact the following NTA members
who specialize in tours to Mexico:
A Closer Look Tours
Mexico’s Monarchs
The Real Mexico
Colin Caparrós
[email protected]
acloserlooktours.com
Grupo Meca Mexico
Raynald Paquet
[email protected]
grupomeca.com
Copper Canyon
S & S Tours
Susan Stilwell
[email protected]
ss-tours.com
Call Today 877 938 0951
Discover more tours at www.acloserlooktours.com
NTAonline.com
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