Quebec to Panama 2017-2019
(North and Central America)
16 months - solo travel - Suzuki DR650

Guanajuato

November 11, 2017  —  Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

Ah Guanajuato, what a fantastic place! It is a very photogenic city, and you will quickly understand why it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The city of Guanajuato was founded in 1559 due to the rich silver and gold deposits. The rich people have built numerous opulent buildings, superb tree-filled plazas, and many brightly coloured houses. There are also some pretty theatres, cobblestone streets, and some interesting museum such as the Museum of the Mummies, presented in the next post.

One of the world's richest silver veins was discovered in the area in 1558. For 250 years, the mine produced 20% of the world's silver. Of course there was an obvious contrast between the rich mine barons and the poor indigenous people working the mine.

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Templo de San Francisco.
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
The historical centre.
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Templo San Diego.
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Templo de San Francisco.
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato.
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
University of Guanajuato.
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

It is easy to get lost in this city. In addition to the numerous one-way road, and the curvy roads twisting their way in the hills, there are a lot of tunnels, sometimes very long, that are former rivers. When entering a tunnel, it is hard to know where the exit is going to be.

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico


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Don Quixote

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

Like many of you, I had heard the name Don Quixote several times. However, I was imagining a real Spanish hero that would have been greatly important in Spain's history. I was so totally wrong.

In fact, he is a fictional character from a novel by Miguel de Cervantes published in Madrid, in 1605 and 1615. The novel was titled « The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha » (original title in Spanish « El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha »).

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

The book is a medieval novel, a knight novel, and modern novel. It is a parody of the medieval lifestyle, and the chivalric ideal in addition to being a critique of the Spanish society. The novel is considered as one of the most important of the Spanish and world literature.

The Iconography Museum of Don Quixote is an interesting museum with works of art depicting this imaginary character.

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
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Teatro Juárez

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

Located in the heart of the historical centre, the magnificent Juárez Theater was built between 1873 and 1903.

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
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Guanajuato at night

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

In addition to being very photogenic by day, the city is also extraordinary at night. From the El Pílipa monument, the view on the city is fantastic.

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
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A new record

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

Ha ha, yes a new record. Why?

Because I have four photos of myself in the same place.

Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico
Guanajuato - Guanajuato - Mexico

A selfie?! And I hate selfies.

I look at the photo and I wonder why people like to take such photo... the city is so ugly!