Querétaro 2016

Last weekend (March 25-27, 2016) was the climax of Holy Week: Viernes Santo, Sabado de Gloria, and Domingo de Pascua. Our friends Alejandra, Manuel, and Victor from Toluca came to visit us in Querétaro. On Friday, we walked around Querétaro visiting some attractions. We began with the special temporary exhibit of Tutankamón artifacts in the Museo de las Conspiradores. Upstairs there are murals highlighting the group that conspired in Querétaro to launch the struggle for independence. Then we enjoyed the murals in the Casa de la Corregidora (photo of us with the sculpture of Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez). We were having fun in the Plaza de Armas, and then visited the Panteon de los Queretanos Illustres. In the Santa Cruz neighborhood we happened on the Procesion Silencio Virgen de Dolores (or "Macarena")  that honors the Virgin Mary in the pain of Viernes Santo. Later we enjoyed an ice cream dessert after gorditas for comida. After a rest, we took a walk in the beautiful Cerro Campanas park. All week, the street vendors sell special pastries characteristic of Holy Week -- we enjoyed these after photographing them. And finally, Alejandra gave Lois a very cute hat that she made.

On Saturday, we were off to see the sights in Dolores Hidalgo, about a 2 hour ride in Victor's snazzy car. The beautiful plaza with its historic church is the scene of the famous "Grito" when Padre Miguel Hidalgo called Mexicans to take up arms and fight for independence from the Spanish Empire, on September 16, 1810. And another Dolores Hidalgo claim to fame is this: it is the birthplace of the extremely popular singer-songwriter of rancheras Jose Alfredo Jimenez (1926-1973). We visited (along with hordes of Mexicans) the cemetery with its colorful memorial to Jimenez, and then the museum that honors him in the house that he grew up in. From there we walked to the gorgeous central plaza, then had lunch in a comedor in the mercado. Finally, we appreciated the elaborate mail slot in the wall of the Post Office!