Playa del Carmen, Mexico

From Aguascalientes, there is a very convenient direct flight to Cancun.  Since the wedding is at a private beach south of Playa del Carmen, we chose to stay in town, not that any of it is our cup of tea, so we were a little surprised that we enjoyed our evening strolls on the pedestrian La Quinta (Fifth Avenue).  Nearly none of the internationals wear masks, while almost all the nationals wear them.  Per Danny's advice, we had our very first COVID test at Salud Digna 260 pesos each.   

The wedding was a truly a picture perfect occasion.  I cannot compete with pictures, so won't try here.  What a joyous occasion!

We made a quick getaway the day after the wedding.  The Cancun airport was so busy, John said we are never flying there, no matter how cheap the flights are, haha.

So long Aguascalientes, we'll miss you!

View from the rooftop of Hotel Meliora By Bunik.

The Beach.

Our hotel room had a kitchenette and was conviently located next to a Walmart that was getting ready for Christmas.

Dinner on our balcony = Radler + Guacamole and Chips.

La Quinta (Fifth Avenue) was busy every night.

Wish we had bins of Jamaica leaves in the supermarkets in Raleigh.

Beautiful setting at Punto Venado for Maritza and Jake's wedding.

A weekend trip to Zacatecas, Mexico

The ex-mining town of Zacatecas, a UNESCO city, is only 120km from Aguascaliente and the hometown of Danny's resident house sitter Hector.  We just had to check it off the list.  

On a Saturday morning Hector had off work, the four of us squeezed into a Volkswagen Polo rideshare(blablacar) headed to Zacatecas.  At 8000ft, Zacatecas is one of the highest cities in Mexico, a capital of silver mining, and was responsible for 20% of the world's silver production in the early 18th century.  All that silver gave Zacatecas a collection of very impressive buildings in the city center, and three world class museums.  

Saturday evening it seemed like the whole town was strolling in the streets, very much a festive air.  To think I even had a shred of hesitation when we were trip-planning because of state department warnings, I can be so gullible sometimes. 

Hector , Danny and Sun-Ling walking towards Zacatecas city center.

The Colonial Era Templo Santo Domingo, respendent with side altars reaching to the ceiling.

City Center being a UNESCO World Heritage site, signage is restricted to on-the-wall paint. Nice.

Zacatecas is a top tourist destination. The TI is well stocked with various self-guided walking tours, which we found very useful, and openair tour buses abound.

The Art Nouveau Calderón Theater.

The Museo Rafael Coronel has a world class collection of Mexican masks, 4000 of them, and marionettes.

I, as you know, am fascinated by aqueducts and bullrings. Zacatecas has an old aqueduct (upper left) that runs right past the old bull ring (now part of a hotel).

We scored some vegan tacos from a food cart at a Saturday night fair.

Folks strolling by the Cathedral and Plaza de Armas at night

The Museo Pedro Coronel had a large collection of works by Juan Miro.

And the highlight of the Manuel Felguérez Museum of Abstract Art was a collection of murals originally commissioned for Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan.

The museum was previously a prison.

My head is quick to start spinning in a museum of religious art, but the well-signed Museo of Guadalupe - just a short bus ride from Zacatecas - kept my head in place for several hours.

The highlight for me of the museum was stepping into the choir of the adjacent Templo De Nuestra Señora Del Carmen for an amazing view.





Zacatecas is an old mining town in the hills. Here are some shots around town.

Around town in Aguascalientes, Mexico

Outside festival time, Aguascalientes is tranquilo, not unlike Raleigh, good place to live, unexciting for visitors.  There are a handful of minor but enjoyable museums, churches, markets, and vegetarian restaurants that we made the rounds to.  

The most surprising thing about Aguascalientes is the various venues it has.  The old train station area has been redeveloped into a huge complex of permanent (velodrome, museums, university, concert hall, retail, etc.) and temporary uses.  In the short time we were there, a marathon and a parade were staged there.  At the opposite side of center,  there are two bullrings, a charro (cowboy/horseman) stadium, a mega open-air fair venue, an indoor palenque (arena that stages concerts as well as chicken fights).  This is all in addition to the usual performance arts theaters/centers.  Everything I enumerated here are only what we happened upon on foot.  Who knows what else they have?!  What cultural riches?!

The city sign.

Vegan/Vegetarian Restos are not as easily found in Aguascalientes as in Guadalajara, but we found a few. Avocado Punk. Vegan fast food. Check out these vegan tacos. It's all in the fixin's ain't? Deep fried Cualiflower at Casa Onca. It's very similar to Gobi Manchurian.

Vegan tacos and vegan lunch plate from Rame Fonda Vegan, just around the corner from Casa Onca.

Chile Relleno Plates at Mercado Teran. It doesn't get much better than this! But it does get better with these Chile Relleno Plates at Mercado Morelos. Each plate comes with a Chile Relleno (roasted poblano chile stuffed with cheese), plus beans, rice and salad. Condiments: limes, chopped onions, oregano, red salsa. Plus a big stack of warm tortillas.

Takeout Vegetarian Burritos from Los Burros Cuchos

Fabric Installation at Museo Espacio - Aguascalientes, Mexico

Prodigal Son Stained Glass by Saturnino Herran - Aguascalientes City Museum.

The area around the old Railway station was the start and finish line for the Aguascalientes Marathon.

Here's the Railway Station.

The Ruins of the old Roundhouse have been preserved.

Looking towards the Velodromo.



Church and building architecture. This first one is Templo San Antonio, exterior and interior.

A stylish streamline corner building.

The very sharp Teatro Cinema.

Corner shoe store with giant shoe.

The interior of Mercado Teran. Plus some good looking veggies.

Murals in the Government Office. The new Bull Ring aka Plaza de Toros Monumenta And finally, it's the week of the annual fair in Barrio Encino where we were staying with my cousin.