Mexico 2019 - Queretaro

I've had it in my mind to revisit Queretaro for a number of years and made tha a reality on this trip to Mexico.  Founded by the Spanish in 5131, Santiago de Querétaro is some 200k north of CDMX and is an important business hub with lots of trnasnational corporations and new development. Queretaro has a population of around, is the capital of the state by the same name and is noteworthy for some major historical events.  Queretaro is considered one of the cradles of the independence movement and much revolutionary scheming took place there.  It is also where Emperor Maximillian ended his short rule over Mexico in front of a firing squad after his defeat by the insurgents.  

I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of tourist presence and was pleasantly surprised to discover that Queretaro is relatively undiscovered.  It has a lovely, large colonial centre, many fine museums, some interesting antiquities and a lively night life.  

My street

View from the rooftop terrace at the no-nonsense Hostal Itza where I stayed of the Templo de Santo Domingo.

El Museo de Arte de Querétaro - Queretaro Art Museum promotes the arts in many forms, e.g, dance, music, film, educational programs, as well as the galleries that display local and international artists.  I saw a band playing good Cuban music there one afternoon.

 

I liked the building itself more than the art that was on exhibit.

The museum of Revolutionary History

Benito Juarez - Mexico's most loved president.  

 

Francisco I. Madero and Venustiano Carranza, two leaders in the Mexican Revolution.

Miguel Hidalgo, the priest who is popularly credited for the first, big public outcry for independence from Spain, known as "El Grito de Dolores", The Cry of Dolores, called out from the church where he was the priest in the town of Dolores.

You might have noticed that I like ornate church interiors.  There's something about them that resonates with me, perhaps a psychedelic sensibility.  So much to engage the eye.  This is the Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo right behind my hostal. 

 Queretaro's fledgling bike share

More Queretaro next time

Mexico 2019 - More this and that around CDMX

As I've said before, you never know what you're going to encounter in Mexico City.  Riding in to the Zocalo one afternoon, there were these tents set up sheltering grassy places created for people to get out of the hot sun.  

And a very good orchestra performed.

"Celito Lindo" - a Mexican anthem - You'll recognize it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=wo0-J54PacI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZJheLI4v-E 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=29&v=Fllqj7AdOsI

Another sidewalk photography exhibit.

A Protest, an attention getting one for sure.

At a gallery in the neighbourhood

 Yes, another Ciclovia

This is approaching Villa de Guadalupe, the epicenter of Virgin of Guadalupe worship.

 I had no idea that this Ciclovia route ended up there and was surprised when I recognized it.  I had come here by subway in the past and it seemed like a long trip with transfers and waiting.  By bike, on the car-free streets, it seemed fast and effortless.

Stay tuned........

Mexico 2019 - Tepoztlan revisited

I think I've introduced Jaap in a previous post but, in any case, I met him in Guanajuato when he visited there and stayed at Casa Bertha.  He is from the Netherlands and has lived in Mexico City for some years where he is a language teacher.  We get together now and then for coffee or a beer when I'm around.  He has a fondness for Tepoztlan and, though I'd been there not long ago, I thought it would be fun to go with a friend and one who is more familiar with the town.

 This time we'd skip the hike to the pyramid.  When I was there before, that hike wore me out and I didn't have much energy for exploring the town.  So this time we concentrated on wandering the streets and that was plenty of exercise too as it's a hilly town.

 Lots of murals

"Our roots go beyond Disney"

 The University for Wellbeing

A museum in the old convent

 The journey home under a full moon.