The heart of Mexico (Guanajuato)

Member Name: donruk

Product:	Guanajuato
Date:	30/06/02 (1237 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Colonial masterpiece and work of art, Allot of history and things to see, Friendly people and pretty girls

Disadvantages: None

Brief History:

Guanajuato means "hill of frogs" in the local indigenous language, because the Tarascan Indians believed that the frog represented the god of wisdom. The Spaniards conquered Guanajuato in 1552, and a man by the name of Juan De Jaso discovered rich mineral deposits in the area. The Spaniards brutally enslaved the Tarascan Indians, and put them to work in the mines. The Valenciana mine located here, was one of the richest silver finds in history. Because of the great wealth of silver found here, the Spaniards were able to gather great wealth and riches, and the Spaniards were able to build huge churches and a great city. In 1973, the Mexican government declared Guanajuato a national monument, and all new construction projects of the city must match the old medieval style architecture of the center. In 1988, the United Nations named the city a World Heritage Zone.

Guanajuato Today:

Guanajuato is located in the very center of Mexico, about three and half-hours from Mexico City, and is one of Mexico's most famous tourist spots.
Today, Guanajuato's colonial architecture is very well preserved along with the 35 old churches. The city is laid out in a unique fashion. An extensive underground highway runs along side an ancient riverbed. If you were to drive in Guanajuato, then you would pass through many tunnels and high walls as much of the road passes beneath the city. There are many flights of stairs that lead up to the heart of the city or down the underground highway. No street in Guanajuato runs in a straight line, they all run curved and crooked. Because of this unique layout, driving in Guanajuato can be a pain. The city is built on a group of hills, and the roads and houses go higher and higher until you can see the heart of the city below. The city of Guanajuato is the capital of the state by the same name. Guanajuato State has a population of 4,393,160, and is the national leader in the production of shoes, gold, l
eather goods, broccoli, potatoes, strawberries, and many other products. Guanajuato has a literacy rate of 88%, and ranks number two in development of the Mexican states. Overall, one of the best preserved colonial cities of the Western Hemisphere. The weather is warm, but not hot, and the landscape is beautiful. The city and state of Guanajuato has always had a very strong Catholic culture, and you will see many things in the state that would prove my point.

My Experience:

After visiting San Luis, I took a bus to Guanajuato, and then took a taxi to a hotel. The first thing that I saw when entering the city was a beautiful park with many statues shaped as frogs. The taxi entered several tunnels and high walls on both sides of the highway. After I got settled in my hotel, I set out to explore the small city of Gunajuato. The city is very elegant, graceful, and looks extremely romantic. I pass by many old beautiful buildings of European style. I went down town and saw a wealth of pretty sights.

I went to Guanajuato's mercado(indoor market), which is inside of an old French iron and glass structure, in which one can find almost anything from hand made crafts to different fruits. Around the area, small tunnels lead to the highway below. I saw the magnificent Teatro Juarez, which faces the main plaza of downtown. Every inch of the interior of the theater is carved, painted, and decorated. The outside of the theater is equally impressive with graceful statues of many graceful and angelic figures on the top, and majestic pillars at the entrance. At the high point of the city, and viewed very well in downtown is the giant, statue of Pipila. The majestic statue, which looks like a Greek god with a huge club like object, is dedicated to a local miner hero who fought for the rebels in the war of independence against Spain.

In the main plaza, I saw many elegant churches and monuments as the church bells rang beautifully. In another part o
f the area, I saw Roman like arch that led to a beautiful fountain. There are many such ornate fountains and plazas in the city. There is a group of steps, which is known as Ally of the Kiss. Legend says that the ally was so narrow that lovers could kiss between the two balconies. Today many lovers kiss and make love on the Ally of the Kiss. The next day, I went on an organized tour to the more famous and less accessible parts of the city. The tour bus took us through the winding roads that went higher and higher up the hilltop of the city.

Our first stop was a small craft store with many pictures of frogs on the outside. Next, we went to the Pipila statue that overlooks the city. In this area, one can get a great view of the city below. The city looks like a beautiful jewel from above. The houses and structures that make their way up the cliffs are of every color of the rainbow. I could spot a beautiful red church below, along with other churches of different colors. After that, we went to a rather disturbing place, called the mummy museum, which is located next to a cemetery and a small witchcraft museum. The mummies are not mummies, but are old decomposed bodies. Some parts of the cemetery are so dry that the bodies are well preserved. Because of the small size of the city, many families could not afford to pay rent for cemetery space, so the bodies were placed in a museum for all to see. The bodies look disturbing, with dead flesh raped around their bones like leather or paper. The bodies are in many odd positions with some faces fixed in an eternal scream. There was one particular disturbing body of a woman who was buried alive, and was found latter with her body and face fixed in an agonizing position. There are also some old severed heads. Overall this museum is interesting but very disturbing and it is not for everyone.

After that haunting experience, we went to beautiful church at Valencina at the high point of the city, which is all
decked out in hand carved gold and silver in the interior. After that, we went to the elegant Mina Valencina, which looks like a beautiful Hacienda with gardens, an old fountain and bar and an old mine, shaft. We went down into the caverns of the small silver mine as the tour guide explained the mines history. The steps led downward into the mine, as their were small Catholic pictures of Saints on the sides of the cavern walls. Outside of the mine, there is a comical water fountain of two miners taking a pee. The city seemed very safe to me, and the people seemed high class. The girls of Guanajuato are very attractive and well cultured. The people seemed to speak in sort of a European accent in this city. Guanajuato has a wealth of history and things to see, and is like a big museum. This is one the best preserved Colonial cities of Mexico. I want to go back.

My Day Trip through Guanajuato State:

Latter in the day, I took a taxi to a very special place on top of a large mountain known as Cerro de Cubilete, which marks the geographic center of Mexico. As the taxi made it's way up the mountain, I took in the gorgeous scenery as it began to slightly rain. I spotted an elegant arch like structure of Moorish like architecture on the way up the mountain. On the very top of the mountain overlooking the valley stands a 20-meter statue of Christ with open arms, said to be blessing the valley below. The statue of Christ stands atop a large Catholic center, and is imposing when up close. The catholic center atop the mountain has a very sacred atmosphere, and seems like an escape from the world below. As a Christian, this is the place where I would like to go and spend time with God. There seems to be a spiritual significance here. The large Catholic Basilica seems very tranquil, and quiet. Inside the Catholic center, there is a Catholic bookstore, along with many places of worship. This is also a good place to take at the country valley below and breathe the
fresh air. Iwill never forget this place; there is something about it. After that, the taxi took me back to Guanajuato City where I spent the night. The next day I took a trip to San Migual De Allende (if you want to know about San Migual, then read my review under the San Migual section of DooYoo.) And after that, my trip through Guanajuato was concluded.

Conclusion:

Guanajuato City and state is glorious. It seemed that there was less poverty in Guanijuato State than some of the other parts of Mexico. There is also a larger wealthy population in Guanajuato State opposes to some of the other more southern Mexican states. The people are very friendly, and the girls sexy. You will love Guanajuato and you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend Guanajuato to anyone. If you want to know how to get their, then take a plane to Mexico City, and then take a bus at the Northern Mexico City bus station that goes to Guanajuato. Check it out, you will love it.

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