Guanajuato

This weekend my friend Corie and I escaped Leon to travel to a nearby town called Guanajuato. It was everything everyone said it would be: colonial, charming, clean - in other words: very different than Leon. The buildings are painted with bright colors, and there isn't any graffiti. That being said, the town is also very touristy. We saw people as white as us for the first time in Mexico! Not just Americans and Europeans though, there were also many Mexican tourists. On Saturday night we participated in a callejoneada - a traditional Guanajuatan nighttime stroll though the streets accompanied by a group of costumed Mexicans singing classical romantic songs. It was fun except for the fact that Corie and I didn't know any of the famous songs everyone around us was singing. The tour ends at the Callejon del Beso (kissing alley) - where the alley constructed in the 1600s is so narrow, a legend that says that two lovers who lived on opposite sides of the street could open their windows and lean over for a nighttime kiss. Corny but cute.

On Sunday we took a tour van around to some of the tourist sites of Guanajuato. Our first stop was a church with an interior of gold that was financed by the riches from the city's mines in the 16 and 1700s. Next we travelled down into one of the mines. That was somewhat forgettable. We did however, stop into a store that sells cool stuff made from the stones of the mines - there I bought my first souvenir! Next we toured an old hacienda (estate) that has been converted into a museum that showcases torture tools and techniques from the Inquisition (when the Catholic church persecuted those who they thought weren't abiding by church laws). That was cool in a sick sort-of way. haha. Afterwards we went across the street into a wonderful sweet shop that sold all sorts of traditional Mexican candies. Inside, we also sampled some tasty flavored liqueurs - my favorites were coconut and macadamia nut. Our tour ended with a trip through the underground tunnels of the city and then up above to the outskirts to see some beautiful panoramic views of Guanajuato. Overall, it was a very nice weekend trip. I felt like I'd returned to Spain!