New Year in Colonial Mexico

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We flew to the Leon/Guanajuato International Airport. It was only 30 minutes from Guanajuato but the roads conspired against us once we reached town. More on that in the next frame. Guanajuato means 'place of frogs' and is one of Mexico's most romantic cities. Our hotel was the Santa Fe . It was a nice hotel with very nice rooms. The staff was great and helpful. The location was great - on the main Jardin (Garden Plaza)

For info here is the contact:

Hotel Posada Santa Fe
Address:Jardin de la Union No 12

Santa Fe Hotel
This is the front of the hotel and would have been used years ago - the hotel dates back to the 1860's. The hotel once housed the Prussian Consulate during the reign of Emperor Maximilian (1864-67). Now the main entrance is off the Jardin Union.
Santa Fe Hotel
This is the "back" of the hotel - a restaurant on the Jardin Union. Great location near all the sites downtown.
Santa Fe Hotel
The hotel insides are colonial Mexico - very pretty. The rooms were a bit small but modern and comfortable.
Posada Santa Fe
Every church and establishment had a creche - this is the one in Posada Santa Fe.
Mexico 2003
Guanajuato was founded in 1559 and became very wealthy due to world-famous mines. Guanajuato was one of Mexico's most important colonial mining cities along with San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas, from the 16th through the 18th centuries. At one time over a third of the world's silver came from these towns. The city was plagued by floods until the river was diverted, leaving a bed for what has become a subterranean byway.
Mexico 2003
The town continued to expand the tunnels until it is impossible to get around without using one. But they are confusing to the uninitiated. We spent about an hour going around and around until finding the hotel. Once we got a map of the city and the tunnels it was a bit easier to determine where we were and where we needed to pop up to the surface.
Mexico 2003
Here a tunnel opens to the surface for a short time to reveal colorful homes on the hillside. There are over eight different tunnels some interconnecting.
Mexico 2003
Houses are perched over the roadway in precarious fashion. The tunnels wind like the river making it impossible to keep your bearings. There are little boys who will guide you for a price but we did not engage one - it is much more enjoyable to wander lost for hours.
Mexico 2003
Lighting is not the best in the tunnels - and the signage is not too helpful. But after seeing the same sign three of four times you begin to learn your way around
Mexico 2003
Here is the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato at night. This 17th century church faces the Plaza de la Paz.
Mexico 2003
We were lucky as there was some sort of ceremony and all the chandeliers were lit. They are from Venice brilliant.
Mexico 2003
Over the alter is a statue of the town patron saint, the Virgin Mary, on a solid-silver pedestal. The statue was given to the city by Charles I and Phillip III of Spain in 1557. It is reputed to date from the 7th century, and is considered the oldest piece of Christian art in Mexico.
Mexico 2003
It was just after Christmas so every hotel, church and most stores display a creche. The churches went all out. This creche took up the entire height of the church. Typically the stars went up to the heavens with the guiding star predominantly over the Christ child.
Mexico 2003
This is the Basilica creche a little closer. This was probably our favorite creche. The figures are wonderful. Here are closeups of the cow and a lamb.
Mexico 2003
Mexico 2003
Mexico 2003
We had a wonderful dinner at Truco 7 where the Quesadillas were the standard for the rest of the trip. We highly recommend them and the restaurant. After dinner we strolled along the Jardin and heard music near the end of the park. Each weekend evening the city's Estudiontinas - local singers dressed as 16th century troubadours - gather near the Jardin and serenade through the narrow streets. Many of the townspeople followed behind as they walked along.
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