Find Faith. Inspire Hope. Pursued by Grace.

We continue to have a great deal of fun in  the state of Guanajuato (click on the link) visiting museums, cultural sites, learning Spanish and meeting new friends.

The state is considered the epicenter of the Mexican Independence of 1810 and especially around San Miguel de Allende, Irapuato, Guanajuato City, and Dolores Hildago.

We enjoyed watching the La Fiesta de Los Locos in honor of San Antonio de Paduca.   The literal translation is the “party of the crazies.”  The festival takes place in San Miguel de Allende every year in the middle of June.  The exact origins of this festival are lost in the mists of time, but locals recall a time when the local farmers and gardeners would venerate the saint for a good growing season and harvest. Their celebrations came to include creative dances and dress, and the festival has only grown since then.

We traveled to Ciudad Guanajuato with our friends from Iowa to visit the beautiful mountain town.  This colonial town is absolutely gorgeous.   It’s tunnels carved through the mountains are fascinating and the beauty of the city amazed us.

View of Guanajuanto from the Mirador

Narrow colonial streets makes driving interesting.

Enjoying comida at a local restaurant.

A view of el centro.

The troll up to the mirador.

Enjoying ice cream.

One stop in Guanajuato was at the Mummy Museum.  More information about the Mummies of Guanajuato is here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummies_of_Guanajuato

Analise isn’t sure what to think.

Twins!

My opportunity to rest.

We visited the Christo Rey monument about 20 kilometers outside Ciudad Guanajuato.  The monument is place in what is believed to be the geographic center of Mexico.

The Mexican state of Guanajuato is know for growing frescas (strawberries).  The city of Irapuato is the center of production for the state.   We enjoyed our visit with friends to the strawberry fields where we picked our own berries.   Locals are quick to mention the berries are the sweetest in the world.  The soil creates the perfect growing conditions for the sweetest berries.   Local law prohibits using any pesticides and the berries are totally organic.  They are not like the strawberries in the United States.  They are smaller and way tastier!

Linnea showing off a berry.

Our tour group enjoying the visit.

Producing the berries into jelly.

Workers sorting the berries. No machines!

Enjoying a strawberry crepe with the kids!

Norah and Karen walking the strawberry fields.

A beautiful view of the temple on the streets of SMA

On the streets of Guanjuanto

MMM… Nopales.

Gigantic Mexican Wedding Mumpets

Slices of pizza at a mercado for doce pieces per slice.

Linnea blowing bubbles.

Artwork in Irapueto.

Enjoying raspados (snow cones). They were fantastic.