Guanajuato-City of Mines

It was tough to leave Uruapan, but we were anxious to for our annual visit to Guanajuato, one of our favorite cities. After a long, challenging day on the road, which included maneuvering through the city of Irapuato as we traveled North, we arrived at the Bugambille RV park, 9 kilometers out of the city. Mexican road signs in the larger cities can be very confusing, when they are even posted. Our two rigs are relatively small though, so when we do get turned around, we have learned to remain calm and look for and then follow the parade of trucks that know the route through the city. The state of Guanajuato is the breadbasket of Mexico, providng plentiful fruits and vegetables as well as a wealth of other natural resouces. In the days when Mexico was known as Nueva Espana and when the resources of Mexico were exploited by Spain, the colonial cities became the centers of insurgency. Many very influential local leaders sacrificed their lives to free Mexico from the clutches of the Spanish empire. The museums in these colonial cities dramatically tell the history of this land. The mines have been closed in Guanajuato for some time and the shafts have become tunnels for streets around the city. There are stairways and narrow alleys that wind up and down and ALL around! It's a great walking city! We bussed into town Sunday morning and walked to the local market, hoping to find some interesting crafts. The Sunday market turned out to offer mainly produce.....so we stocked up on avocados, strawberries and fresh garbanzo beans still in the shell. The vendor sprinkled some lime juice and chile powder on the bean.....yum! Kind of like edamame. The journey back toward centro, on the pedestrian streets provided great photo opportunities! Lots of families were out for their Sunday afternoon strolls through the various squares. I wish I could have taken a picture of one little baby girl dressed in the most beutiful white embroidered dress! We try to not look TOO touristy, so I kept my camera in its case.... We stopped at a sidewalk cafe near the square for a late brunch and enjoyed the orchestra concert. Phil would have been inspired by "Pomp & Circumstance"! A bus ride back to the RV park and cool cerveza ....ahhhh siesta time!