Every time I step onto the streets of Guanajuato, I am surprised by another beautiful vista. Even if I have seen it a dozen times, I haven’t seen it in this light, this time of day, with these surrounding elements. It takes my breath away and gives me giggles of delight!
A key reason for coming to Guanajuato during October was to enjoy the Cervantino Festival, which began in 1972 as a University of Guanajuato sponsored student event around the works of Cervantes. Now it is a world class event with a celebrated country – this year it is Canada – and state – this year it is Guerrero. It is three weeks long and included movies, classes, music, dance, theatre and many free events.
The 9 tickets for my events 
The streets are getting croweded! 
Canada is the invited county this year 
The festooned fellows are all around – promoting the Festival, I think. 
My first concert was in the Teatro Juarez! 
Over 30 years in the making, it looks much like it did in 1903 when it opened. 
Acapulco Philharmonic Orchesra 
with Jorge Federico Osorio on recorders! 
Orchesta Tradicional Calentana Paul Anastasio 
A group of young musicians from Guerrero 
Director, Hernán Nava Velásquez, honored Paul (from Bham) for his role in saving this music from tierra caliente. 
The group was formed in 2016 as a response to kids getting killed in the drug wars. 
The Alhóndiga outdoor stage in the day 
And at night! 
Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal 
Paid seats ($5 USD) in front, free seats behind, street view, and local patios, too! 
Teatro Principal 
Dancers of Damelahamid – First Nations in lower British Columbia 
Guillermo Velásquez and Leones de la Sierra d Xichú 
We heard what they thought about Trump’s wall & immigration policies 
spoken word between an old rancher and and a young punk 
Valenciana Temple 
A beautiful place for a concert! 
Ensemble Zephyrus 
Los Negros y sus Fandangos 
dancing on a hollow wooden platform 
Young dancers from Guerrero 
They brought up dancers from the audience 
The band members! 
My seat for this concert in Teatro Juarez 
Magos Herrera and Brooklyn Rider 
It had rained all night, the air was still damp and I was amazed at this man tuning the grand piano! 
Grounds of San Gabriel Barrera former Hacienda, now a museum 
Alex Mercado 
Gabriel Puentes 
Israel Cupich 
The Alex Mercado Jazz Trio 
Free events on the steps of University of Guanajuato’s main building 
And in Baratillo Plaza 
And in the streets!
A follow up on my Air BnB home – this one is different. I have my own bedroom and in a separate room is my bathroom. I share the kitchen, and it is a lovely one! It has three levels of balconies that have the best views! I live just behind the University of Guanajuato and have about a four minute steep climb up from there. I have an interesting set of tunnels that I go through and below I highlight one of them. The home is run by four delightful sisters. Two of them took me to breakfast this morning a little bit out of town – it was lovely to talk with them and their goals for this home.
The view today from the top balcony 
I live on this alley (callejón) – the rust colored steps lead to the gate. 
This beautiful building for the University of Guanajuato. I travel around it and live just behind it. 
This is the beautiful, changing view on my way to coffee just down the street. 
Carolina & Gabriela – two gracious sisters 
Santa Rosa de Lima 
I walk through this tunnel two to four times a day 
It is tight when a vehicle travels through at the same time 
However, it it downright scary when something larger goes through, like a van or a delivery truck, such as this. He delivers water, which must be at least once a week!
It took me a while to go to the Mummy Museum, as I had mixed emotions and wanted to be open and respectful. As I travel through Mexico i am consistently impressed with the many ways they treat death. I see it in their depictions of the Calavera Catrina, in their rituals surrounding Dia de los Muertos, and now a Mummy Museum. As I began my wander through the museum there was a family of 15 people in front of me – ages 2 to about 70. I love how the younger ones grabbed an elder’s hand and they would huddle together trading questions and and answers. This museum makes visible some concepts that could be frightening. I imagine talking about them with family helps normalize the reality of death.
It felt strange to see them with clothes on 
The biography of the man on the left 
I loved the signs posted throughout! 
A momma and still born child 
This woman startled me. The sign says that, based on the position of her arms and head, she was likely entombed while still alive. It states that there was a medical condition, at that time, that looked like death, but was not.
My México Travels 
Looks like you stayed just off Calzada de Quadalupe, my favorite street in Guanajuato! We stay at some Casitas near the top of the Calzada, just beyond the church. We always go in February or March but may have to explore the Cervantino Festival
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I bet the views from your casita near the top of the Calzada were great! I struggled with the steep streets. Yes, you should catch Cervantino! It seemed less crowded during the first days, which I appreciated.
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