Guanajuato, Mexico

Guanajuato: Dieter’s Delight?

Guanajuato is a highly photogenic city that sprawls up the sides of a mountain gorge. Tucked into the Sierra Madre Occidental, or the western of Mexico’s twin mountain ranges, Guanajuato may be hard to pronounce (wah-na-WHA-toh) but easy to like.

Although the inhabitants of this state capital at 2,015 meters (6,611 feet) above sea level are friendly, their city has only so-so restaurants that for reasons unknown are generally served by indifferent waiters. Perhaps these descendents of the Spanish conquerors (who founded this town and established mining operations about 1559) don’t like to be bossed. Or perhaps the waiters are overextended university students seriously lacking in sleep. Guanajuato has one of Mexico’s oldest and most venerable institutions of higher learning, the Universidad de Guanajuato, with colleges of mine engineering, law, and theatrical arts.

If restaurants aren’t Guanajuato’s strong suit and the narrow streets as often as not head uphill, perhaps travel agents should sell it as a dieter’s paradise. And this colonial city has so many beautiful churches and churrigueresque, baroque, and neoclassic facades that walking here is a pleasure. Outdoor cafes teem with people talking politics and fashion. Crooked alleys lead to dead ends drenched in flowering vines and washing strung high above the cobblestones from third-story windows, or to stairs leading to more twisty streets faced with colorful buildings. El Callejón del Beso is a famous lane so narrow that lovers can smooch from balconies on either side of the street.

There’s a youthful air that perfumes the city, and plenty for visitors to do. Weekend nights you might luck into a callejoneada, a moveable, musical party that wind through the streets, often with a little donkey to carry the hooch, and bards dressed in medieval costume to entertain. Some are private, others put on by the tourism department, but it’s almost always possible to tag along. Another unique activity is a visit to the Museo de las Momias, where some of the town’s own citizens---exhumed from burial plots after their families stop paying a yearly fee---form a macabre display.

More conventional than the Mummy Museum is the Casa-Museo Diego Rivera, where some of the paintings and sketches of one of Mexico’s top muralists are on display. Other museums include the Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato, with several centuries of art in a venerable old mansion, and the Museo de Don Quijote, which displays exclusively graphics, statues and other items related to the characters Don Quijote and Sancho Panza.

But one of the nicest things to do in Guanajuato is simply to wander the streets. Cafes seem to crop up right when you need a break, often as not in one of Guanajuato’s many lovely plazas. Take a cable car behind Teatro Juárez (the town’s ornate theater, which regularly hosts theater and concerts) for great views of the city below. The bar there dispenses libations along with the views.

For more exercise, head outside the city to visit the Mina La Valenciana, the powerhouse mine that for centuries produced a significant percentage of the world’s gold and silver. It continues operating today on a smaller scale, producing gold, silver, lead, and nickel. You can take a guided tour, although not into the mine itself. The dazzling Templo La Valenciana puts to use gold and silver extracted from the nearby mine in a surfeit of churrigueresque flourishes. Also on the outskirts of town, Ex-Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera has lovely and extensive garden that can be toured, and the refurbished hacienda houses period European furnishings.

Don Quijote Spanish Language School   We are here to help you to find the course and the city that suit you the best. Guanajuato, Guanajuato (+34) 923 27720 http://www.dq-guanajuato.com/dq-guanajuato/

Guanajuato Rentals   We have three nice apartments for short term rental in Guanajuato city Guanajuato, Guanajuato www.guanajuatorentals.com

Mision Hotel Guanajuato   Magia, historia, leyendas.... así es Guanajuato, así es el Hotel Misión Guanajuato.Un lugar lleno de rincones con historia, rodeados por un ambiente en donde el tiempo parece haberse detenido. Construído en el casco de una hacienda del siglo XVII, el Hotel Misión Guanajuato pone a tu disposición 160 habitaciones , las mejores de Guanajuato, listas para hacerte soñar con los lugares más místicos del mundo. Guanajuato, Guanajuato (473) 732-39-80 www.hotelesmision.com

Plot of Land for Sale in Leon, Gto   Nice plot of land in Leon, Guanajuato for sale. In very nice residential neighborhood. Best side of town. Ready to build house on property Guanajuato, Guanajuato

Villa Maria Cristina   Located on a charming tree-lined avenue that leads to Guanajuato´s picturesque plazas, Villa Maria Cristina discreetly hides spacious patios and understated elegance behind its 19th century facade. Paseo de la presa de la Olla No. 76, Centro, GTO., Guanajuato, Guanajuato 1 800 728 9098 mexicoboutiquehotels.com/villamariacristina

Quinta las Acacias   Within the pastel walls of Quinta Las Acacias you can experience the splendor of the past without giving up the luxuries of the present. This French-style antique residence was built in the 19th century and is located in one of Guanajuato´s finest neighborhoods. Paseo De La Presa 168, Gto. Guanajuato 36000, Guanajuato, Guanajuato 1 800 728 9098 mexicoboutiquehotels.com/lasacacias

Casa Valadez   In the heart of Guanajuato across from Teatro Juarez, we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring regional favorites. Jardin de la Union No. 3, Centro Historico, Guanajuato, Guanajuato 473 732 1157

Guanajuato Apartment La Presa   One-bedroom apartment, with full kitchen, in quiet neighborhood for short-term stays. Ideal for single or couple. Guanajuato, Guanajuato http://gtoapartment.com

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