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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico

(Pronounced: HEH-ress, Saa-ka-TAY-kus, MAY-hee-coh)

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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Continuing on our 10_day_adventure, we left Zacatecas and caught the 9 a.m. second-class bus on Linea Zacatecas-Jerez for 30 Pesos each. When we arrived at the bus station in Jerez, there was a Centro Bus where for 9 Pesos we were dropped off right in town, about a block from the plaza.


Our plans were to stay at Hostal Sanctuario on 7 Sanctuario, but while on the plaza we walked past Hotel El Jardin, looked at rooms and decided to stay there instead. Our fine room cost us 230 Pesos a night and came with a king sized bed, in-room bath and wifi. We read that the restaurant here is tops and has good prices.

If you look at the center right in this photo, the pink building you see is Hotel El Jardin. Great location, across the street from the Plaza, and a solid value.
 

Here is a closer look at the gazebo in the Central Plaza. The windowed room below is a tourist office, an unusual feature for a plaza gazebo.

 

Jerez is a very laid back town that is about as Mexican as it gets. Ancianos while the day away sitting on park benches to watch the town's activities. The cool shade and years of friendship with other residents make for the perfect place to pass the time.

 

Every town in Mexico has a church and Jerez proudly displays this one. Spanish colonial architecture with its peach and white painted exterior makes for a pleasant sight.

 

The peaceful, light-filled interior is very alluring and draws one in. Crystal chandeliers, archways and painted domed ceilings complete the apparitional effect.

 

 

 

 

Wandering around town, we came upon a group of locals sitting under this tree. It wasn't as shady as the Plaza, but it offered a place to rest their weary bones.

Photos of people capture an insight into daily life.

 

Los Tres Amigos.

Here are some dapper dandies in their Sunday best, complete with good shoes and hats. Most men in Mexico wear hats daily, a custom not so often seen in the States. The man on the right wears a hat with a long Mexican history.

 

Nothing is better than meeting friends at the park to play a game of dominoes. Hours are spent this way sharing companionship and fun. We don't see this as often up north, but the weather here in this part of Mexico lends itself to outdoor living.

 

Some typical Mexican architecture in this simple, pleasant, well-kept town. Notice that the streets and sidewalks are well maintained and clean.

 

Here's a corner cafe complete with awning and attractive wrought iron decoration.

No graffiti, no garbage floating around, and the sides of the buildings are fresh looking.

 

Traveling through the highlands of Mexico is a must adventure for any traveler. From the famous silver mining city of Zacatecas to the most Mexican town in Mexico, Jerez, and finally the World Heritage and enchanting, University city of Guanajuato. All of these places were unique and unquestionably worth a visit. For more information and practical tips for planning this journey for yourself, we offer The Adventurer's Guide to Mexican Highlands click here

Aaaaaahhhh.... Lunch time! Always in search of the perfect taco.

We found a Taqueria that offered the biggest, most meat-filled tacos we have ever had. 4Pesos each - and very tasty.

Fresh corn tortillas and half-onions roasted on the grill. So very delicious!

 

You can always count on Billy to find the most attractive girls wherever he goes. He has such a way about him that is simply irresistible. This girl, I am sure, is quite charmed.

 

The woman in this photo sits in the shade holding her granddaughter while she and I chat. Billy snaps her picture and preserves this universal image 'forever.'

Restful, peaceful, contented.

 

This is a price list for the hotel we had originally chose to stay in Jerez. Reasonable charges don't you think? The sign reads: 'Welcome to Jerez the smile of Zacatecas.'

This area is advertised as tobacco-free.

 

 

 

 

PINK!!

Yes, yes, Mexicans love their color and it is rather charming.

This is the hallway leading to the rooms in the Santuario.

 

And these are the rooms themselves.

Not bad for a room under $20USD a night.

 

I love it.

Ancianos have a way of encapsulating years of history and living that we can grasp at one glance.

 

Feeding the pigeons is an activity enjoyed worldwide. Notice the medical clinic in the background.

 

As you know, when we travel we utilize a water heating coil to make coffee or tea in our room. Unfortunately after years of travel, ours broke. Off to the ferreteria, or hardware store, to purchase another one and it cost us 30Pesos to replace.

This man spoke English and enjoyed speaking with us to keep his skills alive.

 

A Mexican butcher shop.

Links of chorizo or Mexican sausage hang from the hooks above. Prime cuts of beef are below. The beef in Mexico seems to be getting better. Years ago it was very tough and needed to be sliced thin or marinated to really enjoy. Recently I purchased one-inch thick ribeyes in the Chapala market that were quite nice. Not exactly USDA standards, but getting closer.

 

Ch-ch-chile! HOT!

The marinated vegetables and various chilies in these jars are commonplace throughout Mexico. A word of advice: use sparingly, unless of course you like spicy!

 

Natural herbal solutions to everyday ailments.

Here you see roots, leaves, bark, snake skins and tails, creams and herbal combinations for drinkable infusions to support health. Not sure if it will help the guy on the lower left, but if it does .... we have a miracle happening here.

 

Bret Maverick ? Is that you?

When traveling you never know what you'll find when you turn a corner. This man looks straight out of a poker game in a Western movie.

 

These are the highly prized hand-made Charro clothing worn by Mexicans in traditional celebrations. A fine cut detail of leather is sewn onto the fabric both pants and jackets. A full outfit for a man runs about 5000 Pesos - not including the hat and extras.
 

We discovered some great little shops where the piteado belts are made. The weaving (see the belt on the top) is done with fiber from the maguey plant.

The shop owner, Antonio Munos, learned this trade from his father and he showed us a piteado belt that was commissioned from a Mexican who lives in the States. This belt cost 9000 pesos and took 2 ½ months to make (!) These belts are only worn for special occasions, and after maybe 10 years when it needs to be cleaned, it is soaked in a special solution. The detail in these belts is amazing.
 

Bicycles are a common means of transport when the town's traffic is manageable. It's both healthy and affordable. While I don't know what he has in the toweled basket on his handlebars, a good guess would be burritos for delivery.

The sign behind his bicycle advertises several styles of burritos - seasoned meat, shredded meat, sausage and they all come with beans.

 

Another Church in Jerez. I find it intriguing that there is only one steeple on the right. Did the left one fall down as was the case in another city we know, or did the townspeople run out of money and never built it in the first place?

Perhaps a reader will know.

 

Water fountains are commonplace in Plazas located in the Americas. They provide a tranquil, plant-filled location to relax while listening to running water. One's thoughts can disengage from daily worries so we can return home refreshed.

While some structures most certainly have motors to keep the water running, some do not, and are connected to an underground natural stream. The pressure of the water from below pushes the water flow through the fountain.

 

Here we are in Hotel Jardin's Restaurant having lunch, and making preparations for our next adventure.

The recommendations were true, the food was delectable!

 

Traveling through the highlands of Mexico is a must adventure for any traveler. From the famous silver mining city of Zacatecas to the most Mexican town in Mexico, Jerez, and finally the World Heritage and enchanting, University city of Guanajuato. All of these places were unique and unquestionably worth a visit. For more information and practical tips for planning this journey for yourself, we offer The Adventurer's Guide to Mexican Highlands click here

About the Authors

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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