We arrived in Queretaro on the wednesday before the long weekend around Constitution Day, a national holiday. Turns out the Constituion was drafted and adopted in Queretaro. Whoa! So Enrique Peña, the President of Mexcio was due on Tuesday Feb 5 for commemorations. Not to mention that the day for blessing Nino Dios was Saturday Feb 2. Let the fiestas begin!
In addition to the usual museums and churches, Queretaro has many plazas and gardens filled with fountains, shady ficus trees, monuments, and statues. Strolling is pleasant.
We only made one excursion, to the suburb of El Pueblito, for the festival of the Virgen del Pueblito, which featured pilgrims, a pyrotechnic tower, food, and a blessing of vehicles (see video below) - all cool stuff.
Lots of photos from our 5 days in Queretaro. You can see them all here or see a selection below.
Passed these bicycling pilgrims while on the bus from Tula to Queretaro.
Parroquia de Santiago with Police communications truck parked in front.
Many of the churches in Queretaro have an image of Christ on the Cross at their entrance.
Queretaro was the birthplace of the 1810 Mexican Revolution. The leaders are depicted in this mural.
Getting started on a tasty vegetarian lunch.
The transfer of the Christ image from Chapel to main altar - Templo de la Santa Cruz.
The old aqueduct.
Preparing for Constitution Day.
Tamale Row.
Ex-convent of Santa Rosa de Viterbo.
The Twelve Apostles rest in a back room at Santa Rosa - very cool.
Ex-convento Santa Rosa.
The old Queretaro Station is looking good.
Our first michelada: beer with tamarind & hotsauce, plus salt on the rim of the glass.
Mass at Santiago for the blessing of the Nino Dios.
Nino Dios at Santo Domingo.
Monument to Benito Juarez with our friend Dayle strolling by.
Cleaning a monument.
Procession in Barrio Santa Caterina, Queretaro.
Fountain in Plaza de la Constitución.
Beggars and vendors assemble at Santiago before Sunday morning mass.
Making Gorditos in El Pueblito.
Pilgrims wait be received in the Santuario - El Pueblito.
Sun-Ling waits for her Eskimo.
Blessing of the Vehicles - El Pueblito, Queretaro, Mexico.
There's always some jerk honking his horn. Like I always say: horn works, try the brakes.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't viewed your Flickr slide show when I posted my horn comment. 149 photos! Whew! All these cathedrals in one "small" Mexican town. I say again, hard to imagine the hoards of artists who created these works of art. Oh, and I await a homemade michelada.
ReplyDeleteCrash - Although the tooting was very annoying, especially from the air horns, I'll have to say in their favor, that they were tooting for the Virgin, not in frustration.
ReplyDeleteYep, micheladas will be on the menu this summer. Come on down!