San Sebstian Day in SLP

Our visit to SLP (San Luis Potosi) coincided with the Saint's Say of San Sebastian (January 20), which is celebrated only in the barrio (neighborhood) of San Sebastian. For some reason I was expecting a procession, but instead, they had several evenings of concerts in the church. On the evening of the festival day, the square was overflowing with rides, games, and food stalls. Bands played, and some of the seniors were dancing. There was also a casteillos pirotecnica (fireworks castle), but it was too late for us to stay.

It finally dawned on me, this is exactly how Mexicans like to enjoy themselves. They will use any excuse to have themselves a little, or big, party, to have fun, enjoy each other, and partake in some tasty food. We have seen that now in Queretaro, Guadalajara, Aguascalientes, and now San Luis Potosi. Why bother with arduous processions?!

Barrio San Sebastian and the parish church.


The festival program.


Mass one night...


... band concert the next.


Elote with the works!


We ordered a basket of papas (french fries) from this family-run stand.


The queso (cheese) gorditas michoacanas from these folks were very tasty!


Seetting up the casteillos pirotecnica (fireworks castle)


Bandstand and dancers.


15-second video of the band and dancers.

Lagos de Moreno checked off

Lagos de Moreno got on our radar on a previous trip to Guadalajar and Aguascalientes. Being 43km from Leon, it's a long day trip on the bus, so we are glad that we overnighted here; and it's the last weekend of their Christmas lights. Founded in 1563, Lagos has a historic center with many colonial buildings, which the town seems particularly proud of, as evidenced by the loving decoration of the center with Christmas lights.

Waiting for the Leon BRT L1 line to take us to the Bus Station to catch the bus to Lagos de Moreno.


Approaching Lagos we see in the distance out of the bus window, the mesa that is the symbol of the city.


It's a short walk from the Lagos bus station to our apartment. Here is Sun-Ling on the city's not-so-famous bridge. At the end of the bridge is a large park (2nd below).




Lagos goes all out to celebrate Christmas with lights and decorations of many kinds.






Our apartment was just one block from the Parroquia (Parish Church) thus we walked by it all-the-time, day and night.












The most popular church in town must be Templo y Ex Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Merced. There was a service in progress every time we walked by.


The park in front of Templo la Merced, Rinconada De La Merced, had some dazzling lights.




As did the Main Square. And they had a "snow machine"! See the video below.












The "famous" bridge, Puente de Lagos de Moreno, with Templo de la Luz in the background.








Templo De La Luz at dusk.


We could not resist the street food. First below are freshly boiled chickpeas/garbanzos in-the-shell with salsa picante and lime. We each ate a bag. Second, elote (corn on the cob) with "the works".




The Municipal Building.


Our first morning in town we walked up to Templo del Calvario where there are GIANT LETTERS and a view south back to town.






Then over to Mirador San Miguel Mirador with a northeast view.
Lagos de Moreno got on our radar on a previous trip to Guadalajar and Aguascalientes. Being 43km from Leon, it's a long day trip on the bus, so we are glad that we overnighted here; and it's the last weekend of their Christmas lights. Founded in 1563, Lagos has a historic center with many colonial buildings, which the town seems particularly proud of, as evidenced by the loving decoration of the center with Christmas lights.

Waiting for the Leon BRT L1 line to take us to the Bus Station to catch the bus to Lagos de Moreno.


Approaching Lagos we see in the distance out of the bus window, the mesa that is the symbol of the city.


It's a short walk from the Lagos bus station to our apartment. Here is Sun-Ling on the city's not-so-famous bridge. At the end of the bridge is a large park (2nd below).




Lagos goes all out to celebrate Christmas with lights and decorations of many kinds.






Our apartment was just one block from the Parroquia (Parish Church) thus we walked by it all-the-time, day and night.












The most popular church in town must be Templo y Ex Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Merced. There was a service in progress every time we walked by.


The park in front of Templo la Merced, Rinconada De La Merced, had some dazzling lights.




As did the Main Square. And they had a "snow machine"! See the video below.












The "famous" bridge, Puente de Lagos de Moreno, with Templo de la Luz in the background.






Templo De La Luz at dusk.


We could not resist the street food. First below are freshly boiled chickpeas/garbanzos in-the-shell with salsa picante and lime. We each ate a bag. Second, elote (corn on the cob) with "the works".




The Municipal Building.


Our first morning in town we walked up to Templo del Calvario where there are GIANT LETTERS and a view south back to town.






Then over to Mirador San Miguel Mirador with a northeast view.