Guanajuato II Part 6. San Miguel de Allende

We headed to San Miguel de Allende to meet up with the Urban Sketchers San Miguel de Allende. I met Meagan Burns in Chicago last summer. She is a Chicagoan who lives now in San Miguel de Allende and one of the administrators of this chapter. I agreed I would visit the town this month. We met at the Lavaderos Publicos (public sinks). Here, people do their laundry, still today, yes, like old times. I saw someone doing laundry few years ago when I visited the town, but never sketched the place, so when I knew the meet up would be here I jumped of joy. A crowd of 32 people showed up! As usual my hubby was my model. Meagan treated us with cookies to celebrate Valentine's day. She also gave us a USk SMA book mark and a sticker which I used to identify where and with who the sketch was done. Meagan was very friendly and gracious, thanks Meagan!

Next day, while in San Miguel, Bob and I visited La Gruta Spa (The Grotto Spa) a place to bath in thermal waters. Here in the sketch, there's an opening in the pool that leads to the grotto. I wish I could sketch the steamy interior dome, maybe next time.

Click here for part 7

Guanajuato II Part 5 Breakfast at Plaza del Baratillo

In our way to downtown for breakfast we arrived to Plaza del Baratillo. There, we realized there were street food vendors that could provide for a delicious breakfast. They were next to each other. We bought fresh green juice with saffron (that was a first), then two tamales, then stopped at the most popular vendor selling gorditas where there was a waiting line, and to finalize we got some pan dulce, or Mexican pastries. I know it sounds like a lot.... it was. More than breakfast was brunch. Our table was a cute bench on the shade around the big fountain in the center of the plaza. We filled our bellies and....saved a tip. Click here for Part 6.

Guanajuato II Part 4. Thirsty?

I have seen fountains of all sort of size and shapes in Guanajuato city. Small ones in alleys, big ones in plazas or plazuelas and midsize on street corners, like the one above. Many of them, specially the small ones don't provide water anymore or they are closed. But their presence remind locals and visitors these fountains provided water to the population in the past, before every house had running water like it is today. 

Now, on the other hand, if you are not fond of water and prefer alcoholic drinks, well, Guanajuato offers that too, on its own style. The taberna in the next sketch is a wonderful place to spend a night to satiate your thirst. Inside the taberna, the old atmosphere and the voice of an old man, singing his love songs to the rhythm of his guitar makes you want not to leave and stay forever in this bohemian splendor. A taberna where snacks are free and salty to make you want to drink more....and more...and more. We prefer the second choice, after a long day walking, a place like this transformed tired people to happy people. What a night...I hope Guanajuato don't get us use to it. Risky business.

Click here for Part 5.

Guanajuato II Part 3. Under historical bridges and alleyways

A Sunday I went to mass with my sister in law. I spotted this cute bridge and found information about the street and the bridge. The city of Guanajuato is an open museum because events related to the Independence of Mexico happened here or in the surrounding towns. This narrow alleyway for pedestrians is one example. There's a plaque in the wall which quotes:

"The 28th of September of 1810, the priest of fatherland Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and his Insurgent Army went down by this Slope of Owl and took this city. My sister in law and I explored the area and found that this bridge was built in 1778 and it is named Puente del Campanero (bridge of the bell ringer). That bridge leads to a cafe where we had breakfast next day, the same day I sketched it.

Later that day on this covered alleyway with arches, named Pasaje Baron Alejandro de Humboldt, I captured a Quinceñaera photo session. Her beautiful pink dress and the big reflective umbrella attracted the attention of by passers and mine. The left door near the sing post was a prison, there's a plaque on the wall which quotes "Royal Prison, where prisoners where released by the Insurgent Army, the 28th of September of 1810 and who of course joined the libertarian movement and helped to the triumph of patriots over the realists, in this city". So cool to find history in every corner. Click here for Part 4.

Guanajuato II Part 2. Five heads think better than one

Family members are here visiting Guanajuato city. All the input every one can offer to the daily activities count to make better decisions. Sometimes chaos reins with so many opinions and you go nowhere, but this time it worked since everybody agreed to do so. My sister in law spotted an announcement for a concert of classical music offering several dates being that night the only one opportunity for my visitors to attend. The Symphony Orchestra of the University of Guanajuato played at the Teatro Juarez and for an affordable price we all went. 

The exquisite wood detail which was placed in the theater Juarez for better acoustic is amazing. I sketched a more open scene of the theater and the orchestra during the playing of the last piece of the concert. It was a favorite moment, sketching and listening to live music.

Here, musicians were tuning their instruments before the director appear on scene.

A wonderful night in the cultural city of Guanajuato. Click here for Part 3