New Year in Colonial Mexico

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Mexico 2003 — A panorama of Guanajuato from the Pipila statue.

Mexico 2003 — To reach the hilltop you can climb or use the funicular. The cable car costs a dollar and runs all day every 15 minutes or so. It is a fun ride and a great view of the city. We went up at the end of day 2 but Cal went up again to get some pictures in the morning light of day 3.

Mexico 2003 — I mentioned that a rebel named El Pipila - his real name was Jose de los Reyes Martinez - was able to crawl through the Spanish fusillade with a flagstone on his back to set fire to the Granary doors and that allowed the rebels to storm the building. He holds a torch high in vigilance and the inscription reads, "There will still remain other alhondigas to burn"

Mexico 2003 — A shot of the alhondiga, 'granary', from the statue.

Mexico 2003 — The town from the statue.

Mexico 2003 — Downtown Guanajuato from the statue - in the lower right is the Jardin and the San Diego Church. In the center is Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato (the yellow church). The University is the large building above the Basilica and the Jesuit church is to the right of the University.

Mexico 2003 — Cal took the path down - this is a picture looking up the narrow alley leading to the statue.

Mexico 2003 — San Diego Church was built in 1633 by Franciscan missionaries. After a 1760 flood it was reconstructed in 1786 with Count Valenciana donating half the required funds. The facade is pink cantera-stone and once again is in the churrigueresque style.

Mexico 2003 — A picture of the main plaza - Jardin Union. It is here that crowds gather every evening for music and socializing. The hotel opened onto the Jardin.

Mexico 2003 — As we were leaving Guanajuato we spotted a statue of Don Quixote in a small plaza.

Mexico 2003 — Delores Hidalgo was founded in 1710 as a ranch for raising cattle. Prior to that Viceroy Almanza established the Congregation of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores - Our Lady of Sorrows) in 1570.

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church was built in the 18th century. It is an example of churrigueresque architecture. The facade was carved in rose-colored quarry stone. It is from the steps of this church Don Hidalgo gave his famous independence speech on 16 September 1810. Each year the traditional "Cry for Independence" is given from the atrium of the church on 15 September. We were not told why the day difference....

Mexico 2003 — The inside of the Parish Church. Notice the creche taking up the entire alter area. Also the Independence ribbon over the altar.

Mexico 2003 — The left and right naves were very ornate. This shot is of the left side that is gilded - the right was also very ornate but not gilded.

Mexico 2003 — This bronze monument was erected on September 16th, 1891 in honor of the Father of Mexican Independence, Miguel Hidalgo. The sculpture was designed by Miguel Norena. In this plaza were several ice cream vendors - the speciality in the town is unbelievable flavors. We tried cervasa (beer), shrimp (it was awful), tequila (sort of lime tasting) but skipped corn, avocado, and others.

Mexico 2003 — House of Don Miguel Hidalgo was a unique experience - we had already heard the Independence story and this home, now a museum, had memorials to all the revolutionaries. Included were fragments of Don Miguel Hidalgo's bones. This home dates back to 1779 and father Miguel Hidalgo lived here from 1804 to 1810.

Mexico 2003 — Estandarte de la Virgin de Guadelupe - This is the banner the rebels took up - the Virgin of Guadelupe. After the stirring speech on the 16th of September the rebels marched to San Miguel, outside the town they stopped at a church. Father Hidalgo picked up the banner with the Virgin on it and she became the patron saint of the revolution.

Mexico 2003 — Archangel Gabriel

Mexico 2003 — The Independence Museum covers the history of Mexico's 1810 revolution. Built in the 18th century, it was originally a prison. On September 16th, 1810, Hidalgo freed the inmates, who then joined him on his crusade for freedom. It contains many maps, paintings, and objects - this is a picture of a mural depicting the familiar 'head in a basket' story.

Mexico 2003 — Thought this was unique - a veterinarian using a three-story building in town allowed his patients out to roam on the roof. The church is in the background. We ate lunch in hotel patio just off the plaza.

Mexico 2003 — We arrived in San Miguel late after a long day on the road. We went to dinner at Bugambilia and had a great meal. The only unique thing is that when we paid with a credit card the waiter wanted cash for his tip - probably pocketing some and did not want the amount recorded. We then strolled up to the Jardin and were presented with this awesome display of La Parroquilia in lights.

Mexico 2003 — The creche in the Jardin Principal - Main Garden - was unique in that there were live goats attached to the front. A great attraction for the children.

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