Zacatecas

 On Thursday, August 25, 2011 for our 4th wedding anniversary we decided to drive to the city of Zacatecas in the state of Zacatecas. This was a 4 1/2 hour drive north of our home in San Miguel de Allende.We left at 8:45 am and arrived in Zacatecas at about 1:15 pm. It was a beautiful drive through mountain roads with large amounts of Joshua trees. Our hotel was right in the heart of the city. After we checked in we walked over to the tourist office and got some suggestions on how to begin our exploring. We first went to a lovely little restaurant for a simple lunch.

Lunch

The Hill

With our suggestions we took a taxi to the highest point of the city where there was a cable car you can take over the city. This is were we started our exploring.

City Views

The teléferico

After our ride down we walked a few blocks to see the city below the ground. Zacatecas is a old mining town and they have made the old mines into a tourist attraction. There are some places where we were between 500 and 750 feet below the streets. We were with a small group and had a wonderful guide. At the end of our tour there was an underground bar.

A beautiful woman at the bar

The bar was truly amazing. After having a cold drink in a cold place we were ready to ascend to the warmth of the sunlight. We had to wait a little while for a train to take us out. This was the only way we could exit.

Waiting for the train

Finally in the sun

After exiting we explored the surface streets of the city looking for a restaurant to have a special dinner. We received some recommendations from locals and after checking them out we decided on a quaint place in a very nice hotel. We explored and then rested. We walked over to the restaurant around 7:30 stopping at times to listen to street musicians. When we get to the restaurant and sit down we are the only ones there. Elenita said thank you for reserving the entire place for our anniversary. We had two waiters, the cook and a maitre d' take care of us all night.

The salad

Cooking Elenita's steak

The special dessert

It was wonderful

After a great meal and fabulous service it was time to go to sleep and look forward to the next day.

Friday, August 26, 2011 in Zacatecas. We decided to take the tourist trolly around the city. Afterwards we walked around the city shopping and going to museums. The first museum was a mask museum which was donated from a private collection. This was an incredible place displaying masks used in indigenous ceremony's throughout Mexico. Later in the evening we went to an Italian restaurant that again was amazing food especially for the price and quality.   We were falling in love with Zacatecas, the people, the food and the beauty of this wonderful city. I believe if the city was not so far away from everything I could live here.

One of the things we discover when we arrive in Zacatecas was that this weekend was the end of a two week jazz and blues festival. Tonight after our wonderful dinner we walked over to the Jazz festival and paid our 50 pesos ($4) and for the next 2 1/2 hours we listened to some beautiful music. The setting was lounge like with little tables were one could order inexpensive drinks. The music, the environment, the people were all fantastic. One of the major differences from were we live is we would have paid 200 to 300 pesos ($15 to $25) for this quality of music. We had a great day that ended with a great evening. Tomorrow we are going to venture out and see the country side around Zacatecas.