Interlude in Guanajuato

Guanajuato seduces with its romantic appeal. Located a few hours away from Mexico, this little charming town draws you in with its romantic hills, its taste for drama, and its historical landmarks.

I never planned on visiting the little town of Guanajuato but when a friend suggested we meet up with other friends there, this trip turned out better than I eve imagined. With no further research than where to catch our Ado ride and an adventurous spirit, we embarked for a 4 hour-trip, direction the north of Mexico. 

Views and Hills

Guanajuato is all about hills. The historical center is a valley surrounded by high points, hillsides covered with rainbow colored houses that are just a delight for the eyes. With splashes of colors and cobblestone pedestrian streets, Guanajuato surprises with a daring charm that just takes you away. Daring with its art. Art surrounds and wraps its arms around you in every way. Its classical architecture is showcased with the Juarez Theater with its columns and its muses watching over the plaza below and inviting you to enter. The Spanish style churches and their gilded interiors and bright exteriors are both splendid and unmistakable. Finally and not the least, it’s the eclectic collection of modern sculptures spread all over town that surprises you at every turn some pleasing, others frightening, but always interesting. I won’t lie, some of them are straight up weird and beautiful. 

Then there is Don Quixote! He is everywhere thanks to the International Cervantino festival celebrating the Spanish author Cervantes and his most dramatic and grandiose character. You will find statues and sculptures, abstract and classic of the fictional figure in the historic center. Stop by the Don Quixote Iconographic Museum to grab a coffee and check out the multitude of pieces created around the mythical knight. I was lucky to pose with the guy himself and I can say without bragging that we are very close. 

The Diego Rivera Museum

Diego Rivera is known internationally as Frida Kahlo’s husband. He is also a native of Guanajuato though he later moved away in his youth to study Art. His birth home now hosts a museum dedicated to him where you can take a fantastic tour, narrated by two dramatic actors playing each Diego and Frida. You’ll learn of his education and family history while visiting every room in his childhood home. I mostly knew of his murals displayed in the US and in Mexico City but the museum offers her a rare glimpse of the extreme versatility Rivera had when it came to drawing and painting, excelling in different genres and artistic styles. Photos were not allowed at the time of my visit unfortunately. The actors narrating the tour were excellent in putting in context the history and tumultuous relationship between Diego and Frida, playully teasing one another and explaining the meaning of important works.

Good Eats

Our short excursion in Guanajuato did not disappoint when it came to gastronomy. Mestizo is for amateurs of modern Mexican cuisine; each plate is a canvas where meats and sauces create a delicious painting. At El Gallo Pitagorico, we kept the math to adding flavorful italian and Spanish inspired dishes to our table while enjoy one of the best views of the city.