Picture of Diego Rivera in Detroit (photo by NoTramsToLimeStreet courtesy of Flickr)

Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez, was more commonly known as simply Diego Rivera. He and his wife, Frida Khalo, became known as “the Elephant and the Dove”, a term  Frida’s mother coined  because of the extreme difference in their size. The petite Frida was swallowed by the immense Rivera.

Once, however, Diego was once a small child and his childhood home in Guanajuato is worth a visit when in the area. In an unassuming building, in an upper class neighborhood, the brilliant colors of his home blend seamlessly into the surrounding grandeur of Guanajuato.

Childhood home of Diego Rivera (photo by shugyou courtesy of Flickr)

The Museum is quite extensive and visitors can enjoy the various works of Rivera including, nudes, portraits, landscapes, still lifes, drawings and murals. The various mediums include oil, ink, watercolors and lithographs. The Museum is broken down into sections that afford an informative tour of the artist’s work, his studies and various periods throughout his lifetime.

Unassuming sign (photo by David courtesy of Flickr)

Two chambers on the third level are left open for traveling exhibitions of Mexican and foreign artists. A novel honoring for an artist who once helped a petite young Mexican woman whose art would eventually set the world on fire.

Museo Casa Diego Rivera (photo by Rightindex courtesy of Flickr)

The museum/home is located at Positos No 47 in Guanajuato, Mexico. Admission is $15 and $5 for students. The musem is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 7:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 3:00.

What lies beneath (photo by macloo courtesy of Flickr)

Beneath this Guanajuato cemetery lies a captivating exhibit that has become a world famous attraction. Playing on the Mexican culture’s fascination of death, the museum boasts one of the largest collections of mummies in the western hemisphere.

Museo entrance (photo by jndaycoulter courtesy of Flickr)

There was an unusual law until 1958 that required graves to be bought or rented every five years. If the family of the dead failed to pay, then the body was exhumed and disposed of. This made way for new arrivals. If this ritual were not strange enough, scientists are puzzled by the way a small percentage of the bodies in the graveyard ended up mummified though some unknown process. Instead of destroying these bodies, they were instead put up for display in the Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato.

Intriguing exhibit (photo by jndaycoulter courtesy of Flickr)

While the museum may not be a place for the faint of heart, it is an interesting place for science buffs, supernatural followers and artists. The various poses and contortions of the human body are an amazing model for the art community while the mummification process is quite interesting for anyone visiting.

Hands folded (photo by shugyou courtesy of Flickr)

Many question if this type of carnival-like atmosphere is an appropriate way to honor the deceased. The biggest debate stems from the amount of tourism the mummies bring to Guanajuato. With over a million people visiting Guanajuato to see the mummies, the exhibit must maintain a strong hold on city finances. While some may view the museum as macabre, others may simply view it as one of the many stages of living and dying. Mexican culture is widely known for their fabulous Day of the Dead celebrations after all.

Subterranean Guanajuato (photo by Mexicanwave courtesy of Flickr)

Guanajuato is a truly magical city, like many of the majestic colonials of Mexico. The city itself dates back to 1552 and the tunnel system was built around the time of the silver boom. Guanajuato was one of the many famous silver towns in Mexico and in 1558, a prosperous silver vein was first discovered that put it on the map.

Emerging from the tunnels (photo by shugyou courtesy of Flickr)

One of its most intriguing qualities is the subterranean tunnel system that crisscrosses around underground Guanajuato. Cars and buses run underground making the city quite pedestrian friendly.There are areas that have simply banned vehicles, something you definitely notice after visiting some of Mexico’s bigger cities.

From above (photo of Catwommn courtesy of Flickr)

Like much of Mexico, the buildings are ornate and quite colorful. They are close together as a result of alley ways and streets being so narrow. This bodes very well for visitors wanting to travel by foot. There isn’t the sense of congestion that can sometimes mar the view of the colonial beauty.

The light of day (photo by dearbeatrice courtesy of Flickr)

While the tunnel system may not be the best choice for those who live with claustraphobia, it is a must see. There are few places left on Earth that can transport you to another place in time. Guanajuato’s subterranean system does just that. Some may call the tunnels spooky, creepy or just plain weird, but they should definately be added to your tavel log when visiting Guanajuato.

Irapuato is a Mexican city located at the foot of the Arandas mountain, in the south central region of the state of Guanajuato. It lies between the Silao river and the Guanajuato river. The city is the second largest in the state, with a population of 342,561. The city’s main industry is agriculture and it is famous for its strawberries and the raising of pigs and cattle. The fruits and flowers of Irapuato luxurious gardens are well known throughout Mexico.

In the Tarascan language, Irapuato means,¨Where the hill meets the plain¨. Before the Spanish conquest, this territory originally was home to the Otomie indigenous tribe. However, between 1200 and 1250 AD the Otomies were conquered by the Purepecha tribe who decided to settle here in 1556. These people began to set up farms and raise cattle which supplied food to the surrounding mining towns.

Some of the tourist attractions that the city has are the following: The Fountain of Dancing Water.The fountain, which was inaugurated on December 21, 2004, stands in the Central Plaza of Irapuato. Every, night there is a light, music and water show. The fountain is lit up in a rainbow of colors and the jets provide a choreographed show accompanied by music.

Irapuato Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in the 16Th century in the baroque style, the outside facade neoclassical architecture style. The Cathedral is laid out in the traditional Latin cross style. The Municipal Palace, Constructed in 1800, this neoclassic style building was originally a school for girls. It was then expropriated by the government in 1857 and became the town hall in 1875.

As in the case of most Mexican cities, Irapuato offers great colonial architecture that tourist can enjoy.The city also offers different tours to museums and other important sites in the city. People especially like to visit the town to buy strawberries which are not only the best in the country but are sold very cheap. If you come to Irapuato, expect to have a very relaxing time enjoying the architecture as well as the friendly local people.

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You can reach the beautiful city of Dolores Hidalgo by the federal highway 110 in the state of Guanajuato Mexico, place where Miguel Hidalgo proclaimed Mexico’s Independence.

Pre-hispanic artifacts such as ceramic and stone instrument have been discovered in the area surrounding the city of Dolores Hidalgo. On September 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave the ¨Cry for Independence¨ which began the uprising against the Spanish, thus, the city of Dolores Hidalgo became known as ¨The Cradle of National Independence¨. Father Hidago y Costilla also helped developed local industry, such as Ceramics, Carpentry and Textiles.

Among the tourist attractions that you will find are: The Hidalgo Monument. This bronze monument was erected on September 16, 1891 in honor of the Father of Mexican Independence, Miguel Hidalgo. This sculpture was designed by Miguel Noreña, who was a sculptor and teacher at the school of fine arts.The Church of the third order. This small church is one of the oldest in the city, dating back to 1755. The facade of the church is Baroque style.

This historic city in Mexico is visited by many tourist because of its historic sites and because of its architecture. If you are ever looking for a very Mexican place to visit, please consider coming to Dolores Hidalgo. Make sure to bring your camera so that you can take some pictures of the different buildings you will see. This town as well as other towns in Mexico offers different options for a delicious Mexican meal.

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When visiting the colonial city of Guanajuato, Mexico, one of my favorite places to stay is Casa Estrella de la Valenciana. This beautiful inn is nestled in the hillside of the Central Mexican Highlands.

From the inn, you can enjoy spectacular view of the colonial city. This establishment offers luxury amenities, full breakfast daily and lots of activities in the area.

Though it is more expensive than some of the other hotels in Guanajuato (rates $185 to $265 a night), it’s defintiely worth it. When staying at the inn, you can order extra indulgences, such as champagne, wine or flowers in the room upon your arrival, fruit, cheese and cracker platters, in-room massages, and much more. Nearby Casa Estrella de la Valenciana, you can explore the historical sites and architecture of the city. From La Valancian Church to Guanajuato’s silver mines to the handful of museums in the area, you will enjoy it all.

Learn more about Guanajuato and Casa Estrella de la Valenciana, visit mexicaninns.com.

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The state of Zacatecas is located in the north-western-central high plateau sector of Mexico bounded by the states of Coahuila, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato and Jalisco. The city of Zacatecas which is the capital and the largest in the state has grown up around rich silver-mining operations, although other minerals are also extracted from the area including gold, mercury, copper and iron ore.

Zacatecas is built in a deep, narrow ravine, with narrow, crooked streets, climbing the steep hillsides, and white, flat-roofed houses. The Colonial Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features elaborately decorated buildings, old palaces, residences, colonial fountains and wrought-iron lanterns.

Overlooking the city from an elevation of 150 meters, is the Cerro de la Bufa, a rocky outcropping crowed by a chapel and which is a popular spot for hiking and taking in the view of the city below. The city is also famous for its Teleferico, an aerial tramway which starts at the Cerro del Grillo and flies over downtown Zacatecas giving passengers a breathtaking view of the city. The tramway then climbs up to the Cerro de la Bufa where passengers can enjoy the view of the city.

There are different activities you can do in this city. Among them are shopping for silver and visiting the different colonial style buildings and museums. Eating in Zacatecas is also a really nice experience since they have the best birria (sheep meat cooked with different spices) as well as other traditional dishes.

If you ever get the chance to visit this marvelous city, don’t forget to bring your camera so that you can take some nice pictures of the city from some of the hills that you can hike to.

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