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!
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