Run from Mummies & Kiss in an Alley: A Walking Tour of Guanajuato, Mexico

BY ESTEFANÍA MENDOZA

One of the best ways to tour a city is by foot. Taking in the sites slowly, watching people as they go through their daily rituals and getting a real feel for the vibe of a city or town is what makes strolling through historical districts a rewarding way to visit. Regular contributing blogger and drifter legend, Estefania Garcia Mendoza, takes us on a walking tour of the charming historical city of Guanajuato, Mexico.

I heard about Guanajuato City, Mexico when I was one or two years old, apparently my parents had gone there on their honey moon, and for the next few years, my mom couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful it was. 

I grew up looking at the pictures in their wedding album and decided I would go there as soon as I could…well more than 20 years had to pass before I got the chance to. 

View of Guanajuato from "El Pipila"

At last, this past Wednesday I was there, face to face with a beautiful city staring back at me with all its grandeur. 

Would I be disappointed? Not a tiny bit.

The Biggest Tip: Choose Your Shoes Wisely!

Now the first thing I have to say about this trip is this: bring comfortable shoes. 

The best way to see Guanajuato City is by foot and by foot only. You will be walking A LOT, there’s also lots of steps you will most definitely be climbing, and yeah, your feet and legs will be so tremendously sore at the end of the day. 

But I can assure you, IT WILL BE WORTH IT! Just to help you understand how I felt, it was as if you grew up listening to tales of Peter Pan in Never Land and all its stories, and you finally went there and saw all of it in real life!

Anyways, maybe I am exaggerating, but the truth is that you can really breathe the history in this amazing city.

First Stop: "El Pipila", Where Legends Are Made

One of the best places to get a dramatic view of the city is from "El Pipila".

When you go to school in Mexico they teach you about “El Pipila” and how this dude carried a stone on his back to protect himself from the bullets, allowing him to take possession of the “Alhóndiga de Granaditas”.

That doesn’t really mean much when you’re in school, it was just a bunch of facts I had to learn to pass my tests. 

But here in Guanajuato, I actually got to see the buildings and places where these “facts” took place, and it helped me see history in such a different light. 

Second Stop...sort of: The Mummies...Umm, I'll Take a Pass

“Las Momias de Guanajuato” is another popular must-see attraction in this place, or at least that’s what everyone says. 

Well… call me a chicken but I didn't feel like going and staring at a bunch of mummified dead corpses…so yeah, I passed.

Sorry I can’t tell you much about this attraction, you will have to decide for yourself whether you want to see it or not.  

Third Stop: Now...About That Kiss...

Well, hold on everyone, don’t get too excited. I didn't kiss anyone there. 

The thing is Guanajuato is full of alleys called callejones in Spanish, and one of the most famous ones is called “El Callejón del Beso” or The Alley of the Kiss. This alley is so narrow, that both balconies almost touch. 

The legend says that at eight every night, two love-struck youth named Ana and Carlos who were dating in secret would meet at this alley, and eventually their love began to grow. 

But their love was doomed. In the end they tragically died just like Romeo and Juliet.

Today, this site stands as a tourist attraction where, according to tradition, couples who visit The Alley of the Kiss must kiss while standing on the third step. Doing this will assure fifteen years of happiness. Yeah, whatever.  

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Redeeming Oneself From a Drifter Fail

I guess what I have to say after visiting the beautiful Mexican City of Guanajuato is: "GO!" 

Waiting over 20 years before getting to see this city that is just an 8 hour bus ride away from my hometown makes me feel like a true drifter FAIL. But hey, at least I've finally done it, and now I can cross Guanajuato City, Mexico off from my bucket list and move on to the next.

I wonder where that is. Any suggestions?

Contributing Blogger: Estefania Garcia Mendoza 

Estefanía García Mendoza grew up in a little industrial town in the Gulf of Mexico called Altamira. She loves to travel and has worked as a volunteer in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Besides traveling at least once a year, she is also in love with designing hairpieces and accessories for girls. Check out her designs at LesFleursdeMonAmour. Currently, Stef is also working on launching her own personal blog!

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If you enjoyed this article, please SUBSCRIBE and stay tuned for more travel posts from Guest Blogger, Estefanía García!

And now we'd like to ask you: Have you ever skipped a recommended place to see because it just wasn't your thing?

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