One more historic Mexican gem...
Pieter and I, with Jorge to the right, stand here overlooking the historic 16th century town of Guanajuato a UNESCO World Heritage Site and founded by the Spanish in the 16th century.
To the left of the railing you still can see the baroque style Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato... (Collegiate Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato, Mexico).
We had arrived here on Saturday evening, coming by car from Guadalajara and were staying at Hotel Hacienda Misión.
After checking in, we went downstairs to listen to this group playing and then walked into the historic center of Guanajuato.
Late dinner outside on a patio together with Jorge and Agustín, just a light meal of cheese and later some ham with melon and a glass of wine.
By midnight we were in our room...
Jorge did come from this branch!
Yes, we have driven past these huge BLUE AGAVE fields and it IS since 2006 on the World Heritage list of UNESCO!
Did you know it takes 10 years for growing the agave 'pineapple' for fermenting and distilling it?
Click on these links and then on link behind saved from.
At least both of us had no idea it took THAT long and that they have been doing this for 2,000 years...
On Sunday, we first explore the beautiful gardens of Hacienda Misión with e.g. Jardín de las Pergolas
My favorite Jacaranda tree was blooming...
Pieter and I below the Jacaranda blossoms...
Everywhere in Mexico you find those bearing walls due to the earthquake danger.
Long stone stairs and lovely vines on both sides...
Ancient walls... This very old Hacienda Misión also had once a silver mine on its premises.
We toured the Hacienda inside and also its chapel and here is an outdoor statue.
By car we went from our Hacienda Hotel to the El Pípila statue on top of the mountain!
Then we walked around in the old center of Guanajuato...
Looking down onto the historic district of Guanajuato with to the right the steeples of the Basílica of Our Lady of Guanajuato, Mexico.
Agustín, Pieter and Jorge overlooking the historic district.
Well, they actually turned towards El Pípila for the photo...
El Pipila Statue Guanajuato click to read more
~
It was Palm Sunday, so went to Mass at 13:00 o'clock and we later entered another large Church for listening to the organ, at the end of their Mass.
Again we have witnessed a touching thing going on last night when we walked there. The cast iron gates around the Churches were closed but outside, rolled inside blankets and like sardines next to each other, were the vendors of the woven Palm Sunday crosses.
In order to obtain a good spot for offering them to the Church going crowd for sale on Palm Sunday, they slept there during the night. Just imagine — on the pavement!
~
We walked and visited the home of Diego Rivera (museum) painter and muralist 1886-1957.
On a patio we enjoyed a very spicy meal and we walked some more.
Next we visited an old silver mine from 1650 with a shaft of 525 meters deep (1,722 feet). Still in production!
That's where I got gifted a piece of dark grey silver oxide with yellow pyrite in it.
Shown here is the front.
This is the back side and it measures about 1.5 inch wide or 3.8 cm.
Also bought silver earrings with malachite at the mine.
Malachite is opaque emerald green copper ore.
Those silver malachite earrings were very tricky to photograph.
Top is done outside, in the palm of my hand and then on my leather diaries inside.
Also an elephant in white stone with Cubic Zirconia eyes...
Yes, they also did mine gemstones!
The silver oxide and this white stone elephant, reside in my authentic antique letterpress drawer, in our bedroom.
Scroll down here for seeing it: {My OPA - GRANDDADDY}
Related link:
Historic Town of Guanojuato and its Mines 🇲🇽Mexico | Informative video about Guanajuato as the most beautiful examples of baroque architecture in Central and South America 30:37 min
{Our Irish Blarney Castle Sweaters + Short Hair} | previous post where I show the silver malachite earrings
Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines (UNESCO/NHK) | Video 2:54 min
It is good that these old cities are kept as historic sites. You certainly had a good time touring round. I like the ear rings. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, that is a very good thing so many people can still go back into time and enjoy some historic architecture and lifestyle.
We got an excellent tour of the city indeed and those earrings, useful for St. Patrick's Day were a nice bonus.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, You have shown us some wonderful aerial views and vistas here, but I for one would never lean on a parapet wall or balcony railing. Once again you have come up with the perfect local souvenirs, a piece of the mine ore, and the locally mined and worked jewelry.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteGuess that parapet wall was quite sturdy and thus quite reliable for leaning against! It will be there far longer than any of us...😉
That piece of mine ore is very special and has a lot of beauty and the earrings will remain a fond memory of that Sunday!
Hugs,
Mariette
What an interesting place! Wow, how special plants. interesting stones. Do you collect rocks? We have a lot of different stones, -))
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, a very interesting historic place and visiting the old silver mine from 1650 was very special and seeing the origin of our 'jewelry'. No, I do not collect stones but this one I saved for the very special memory!
Hugs,
Mariette
Thank you for another amazing tour from your travels. Those earrings are gorgeous, and I do like that elephant! I hope you're all well. I'm bogged down with 6 projects all due between July and August, plus a website migration, so haven't been visiting (or posting) much. Take care!
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteThank you and yes, this city and Guadalajara in a previous post, were very special for being guided around.
Jewelry and gemstone pieces make more sense after having visited such an old mine and seeing the stone in the rough. We're fine, just biked as rain is coming again in the afternoon, as the entire spring and summer it seems... Good luck with your projects and website migration!
Hugs,
Mariette
Orecchini e foto bellissime!Buona serata.
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteGrazie en anche tutti voi buona serata.
Abbracci,
Mariette
Estos territorios recuerdan mucho a España, tanto en lengua como en costumbre y en su rico patrimonio cultural.
ReplyDeleteNo he estado en hispanoamérica, pero he conocido personas de distintos paìses y de lengua hispana.
Besos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteEsto seguro que es como una visita de vuelta a España. Tantas semejanzas y la cultura se ha conservado bien.
Abrazos,
Mariette
Another awesome post your life has been amazing
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThank you and yes, our work has been quite interesting. Never boring, and also meeting the kindest people that showed us their culture and architectural beauty.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hallo Mariette, mooi uitzicht op deze stad. Dat blauwe agave veld is ook geweldig. Mooie souvenirs. Fijne dag, lieve groet Willy
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteHet was een geweldig mooie stad met prachtige architectuur.
Die agave velden passeerden we vaker als we naar de champignonkwekerij reden, een al tweeduizend jaar oude cultuur.
Het was heel bijzonder om naar die oude zilvermijn te gaan en daar kreeg ik een stuk donkergrijs zilveroxide met gele pyriet erin. Heel bijzonder! Olifantje ook gekocht voor mijn letterbak.
Liefs,
Mariette
Very good. I imagine Mexico as a colorful country but full of contrasts. These stones are very interesting.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteWe have enjoyed the beautiful architecture and rich culture of Mexico.
Of course there also is poverty, as can be found in almost any country...
We loved seeing the dark grey silver oxide with yellow pyrite and admire the way they can make it into silver. The same for the malachite stones made into earrings.
Hugs,
Mariette
Thanks for telling me your silver oxide with pyrites. This is very beautiful. I have not seen silver oxide before.
ReplyDeleteDearest RTC,
DeleteYou are quite welcome! Enjoyed your post and this was a great experience too.
Hugs,
Mariette
I had no idea Mexico also had Jacaranda trees. They are beautiful trees, a bit messy once the flowers start to drop.
ReplyDeleteBoth earrings are quite beautiful and so is the little elephant.
Dearest Sami,
DeleteYes, they do very well in Mexico and we loved being there when they bloom.
Those earrings and elephant are still fond memories!
Hugs,
Mariette