Zacatecas

Zacatecas is an old Spanish colonial city founded in 1546 upon a rich silver mining region and now has a population of roughly 124,000 people.  Its sits in a semi desert region at about 8000 feet in elevation, which makes for a pleasant climate with warm days and chilly evenings.  Its a little gem of the north central highlands of Mexico and a must see destination if you are ever in the area. Although the city is a popular destination with Mexicans, surprisingly I have seen very few tourists from other countries.   The people are friendly and the city is a beautiful, safe and relaxed place to spend some time.

It was a pretty uneventful and unremarkable pavement ride from Durango, but once I got into the city itself it was a bit crazy with one way streets branching off in every imaginable direction, complete with loco drivers who would just as soon run over a motorcycle as look at one.  Unlike in California where drivers ahead will make room for a moto to pass, in some Mexican cities It seems as though drivers will intentionally try to block your way when you want to split lanes to get through stopped traffic.  This is curious because out on the highways Mexican drivers are very courteous drivers.

It took me almost a hour of driving around the city Centro (downtown) to find the hostel.  I knew where the hostel was located, but I just could’nt get to it because of all the crazy one way streets.  After about the 10th loop around downtown I finally hit the correct street, going the correct direction that put me at the front steps of the hostel.  Wow, that was a little difficult.  I dont want to have to do that again!

This is a view of the downtown area and the arrow points to my hotel.  Almost all of the streets are one way, a navigation nightmare.   I guess the Spanish didnt have much in the way of planning and zoning back in the 1500’s. 🙂

Finally, I find the place……..

The Villa Colonial is quite a nice place for a hostel, and has the standard budget dorm type rooms, but also has private rooms and a couple of studio apartments for rent.  Since I will be staying a while and I have a bunch of gear, I opted for the studio complete with kitchenette and balcony.  How much?  About 16 bucks a night.

Pretty nice set up.

The view of the main cathedral from my balcony.

Looks like I will have to stay a while in light of the digs.  No problem finding a Spanish school as well.  The Fenix Lauguage Institute.

This is Carla, my ex-teacher.  They have since given me a new teacher.  I guess Carla figured that I was a lost cause. 🙂  The Spanish school is relatively inexpensive at 100 bucks a week for 5 days of one on one instruction.  After everyday my head hurts and by the end of the week it feels like its going to explode, but I am learning (poco a poco) little by little.

A walk around the city Centro is quite interesting as many of the churches and other structures are hundreds of years old.  The old stone streets are narrow enough that they have room for only one car,  hence all the one way streets.

The main cathedral was built in the early 1700’s.

In addition there are many interesting looking smaller churches as well.  I think this one is only about 200 years old.

An old convent that started construction in the early 1600’s.

Then low and behold, a Canadian rides into town and parks right next to me. 🙂  Hey Randall!

Two 2007 KTM 990’s parked next to each other in Mexico?  Looks like trouble to me.  Randall is riding from Prince George B.C.   His family is on vacation in Puerto Vallarta and he is going to meet them there.  I think the story he told his wife was that they couldnt afford airline tickets for everyone this year, so he would “take one for the team”  and save money by riding his motorcycle to Mexico.   Pretty slick story dude. 🙂

I think he is happy to be here.  Not sure what’s up with the stink eye.  Maybe he is thinking about having to leave the real Mexico and go to Vallarta to spend the rest of the week with his family in one of those all inclusive tourist trap hotels full of lobster red gringos drinking bad margaritas, and getting sick from eating the all inclusive buffet that sits out in the sun for days on end before it gets changed out.  🙂  I’ll take street tacos and tamales any day over that resort stuff………..  Funny how the only time I’ve ever gotten sick in Mexico was from eating at one of the resorts.

Since I’m a big fan of NASA’s Apollo program and somewhat of a space junkie, I had to take a picture of this little store.  The old guy that owns the joint is a huge fan of the Apollo missions.

Here’s a view down my street……..

But at night it can turn into a roaming street party being led by a band.  These little parties are quite popular on the weekends and they are called Callejoneadas.  Its illegal to drink in public, so groups of people get together and get a permit from the city, hire a band, and sometimes get a mule to carry the Mezcal, and have a little roaming street party that lasts for a couple of hours.  Most times, folks are happy to have you walk along with their party, its pretty fun actually.

There are quite a few motos of all types in Zacatecas as well.  Here are some random local bikers out for a Saturday ride.

Also in town is an old bullfighting arena that has been transformed into a swanky hotel and restaurant.  The Quinta Real.  About $400 US per night, a little rich for my blood, but nonetheless a pretty cool joint………..

On a high ridge line above the city sits the rock formation of La Bufa.  To get there, you can drive, take the tram, or walk.  Its actually quite a nice walk, although a bit steep, from the city Centro.

It would probably have been more fun to take the tram, but I needed the exercise  since I have been sitting in a classroom for the last few weeks.

At the top is a monument to Pancho Villa and the Battle of Zacatecas during the 1913 Mexican Revolution.

There are some great views of the city Centro from La Bufa.

Thats all for now folks.  I have one more week of Spanish school then I am going to head further south to take in some more colonial cities before it gets too cold up here in the high elevations.

Hasta luego…………..