| We didn't have time to see even half of it in an afternoon
so we went back the following day. This time we got off the bus a little
earlier and visited a square at the edge of the city which is full of frog
statues. Don't ask me why, and they aren't all like these two. Now are they
blissful or miserable? |  |
 |
This is the Plaza de Ranas (frogs) but we haven't yet discovered their
significance. It also has the plaque which shows this town is a World
Heritage Site. I'm sure this is not the frogs' fault - but then it's not
easy being green! |
| So back to the churches - an ornate facade but only
open on Saturdays and Sundays. |  |
 |
This imposing building is the Museo de Guanajuato Alhóndiga de Ganaditas
and once the site of an important early battle in the fight for independence. |
| A bus leaving the city centre by diving down into the tunnels
underneath. The entrances and exits are steep and narrow. It is quite
complex down there and there is not much clearance for the buses. I can see
why RVs are advised to stay out of the city. |  |
 |
The interior of the Templo de San Diego de Alcala. Built for the barefoot
Franciscans in 1694, the whole area was raised following the floods of 1780 and
the current 1784 temple was built on top of the original. |
| This is the outside with its pink rendering and
chirriguresque façade. |  |
 |
Pink seems to be a favourite colour here, more so as we move further
north. Even the stone here has a pink tinge. |
| This is the Theatre Juarez with its impressive
columns. It is equally impressive inside. |  |
 |
The stage is not normally open but a group of students were having a tour. |
| The lighting is quite ornate as well all helping this
to look the part of an arts centre for the region. |  |
 |
There was a serious flood in 1905 too. By this time the city was tired of
being regularly flooded by its river so this was diverted and its bed
converted to carry traffic. The city centre is so constricted that further
tunnels were added later. The floods must have been 20-25ft to reach this level up the
walls. |
| Street musicians are commonplace but they aren't
usually as good looking or as young as this. Shame we can't hear his music. |
 |
 |
There is also a museum of Don Quixote. The book is the second most read work
in the world after the Bible. We began to wonder if Cervantes had been born
in Mexico because we saw so much about him, but internet research says he
was born in Spain. However there is an acclaimed international arts
festival, the Festival Cervantino, held here every year. |
| The temple of St John the Baptist was built in the
18th century. You begin to wonder who was doing any work anywhere else there
were so many churches built in this period.. |  |
 |
I particularly like the roof work and the domes in these churches because
they are so complex and are real art forms in their own right. And that's
before you paint them. |
| And there was plenty of work for sculptors although in
Mexico there was a lot of use of maize paste. It seems to have stood the
test of time well. |  |
 |
With flat space at such a premium, you take advantage of what you can find.
This was an innovative restaurant! |
| Traffic moves very slowly through the city and there
are many roads just too narrow for traffic and thus now pedestrian ways. |  |
 |
It seems impossible to find a church here without an ornately carved façade.
I would think that being a stone mason in Mexico today would be in permanent
employment just to keep all these façades
maintained. |
| There is a small plaza outside the church with a
seating stand. I think plays take place here in the season. But I
liked the colourful boxes behind on the hillside. |  |
 |
So we came back to the market hall outside which a dance troupe was giving a
display. They were all ages and all sizes, some more attractive than others. |
| And some were quite young, following in Dad's
footsteps judging from the costume. |  |
 |
This was the boss - now I wonder who this reminds you of back in Sheffield! |
| The dancing was very simple done to the beat of
several drums. I took a video for those who might be interested. |  |
 |
But they couldn't go on all day although they tried! The mummers took over
with something not dissimilar to George and the Dragon, although this was
the tart and the bull. |
| Then we had all manner of characters including the
devil. I think this is the good guy, probably Pancho. Interesting to note
that all the characters wore masks, a tradition in Mexico and in a few days
we visit a mask museum. |  |
|