Zacatecas

I’ve always heard that there are really two Mexicos: the American resort Mexico and the other Mexico. Before coming here, you usually hear so much about the popular cities such as Cancun or Mexico City, however, there are so many undiscovered and lesser-known destinations in Mexico that definitely worth a visit.

The city of Zacatecas in the north of Aguascalientes is one of them. Zacatecas is one the most interesting cities in all of colonial Mexico. Getting around in Mexico with bus is very easy and affordable. So I decided to take a solo day-trip to Zacatecas by bus during the weekend. A one way ticket to Zacatecas costs about MX$ 200 (= 15 CAD).

This city has many things to draw tourists, including the opportunity to tour a defunct silver mine. This tour, of the El Eden mine, is often combined with a tide on the Tram for a fun day. The mine has been in operation for nearly 500 years!

After arriving at the terminal de Autobuses de Zacatecas, I grabbed a taxi to go to the central part of the town. Walking is probably the best way to get around the Centro Historico as it is full of narrow passages and slight hills. Looking at the buildings which have made the historic center of the city a World Heritage Site, I found myself drawn to the wonderful doors on older colonial style homes and colorful windows. Zacatecas is usually colder than Aguascalientes as it’s at close to 7,500 feet in altitude, so it never gets very hot! The food is good and cheap, the streets are great for strolling, and hotels are reasonably priced.

One of the most interesting things I saw in Zacatecas was the festival of Pobre Burro (Poor donkey!). If you're in Zacatecas you cannot miss this traditional callejoneada! When you join the party, you will visit the historic streets and alleys accompanying by a musical group that encourages dances. Also, as long as you stay with the group, you are allowed to drink mezcal from a small jug around the neck! A donkey loaded with barrels of mezcal makes the party even more fun!

#Zacatecas