The colonial trail
Trip Start
Aug 04, 2008
1
31
90
Trip End
Ongoing
Zacatecas,
Central Mexico and Gulf Coast,
Mexico
Thursday, September 25, 2008
We arrived in Zacatecas in the rain, and it rained for the 2 days we were there. This is a colonial mining town, and has a large area of colonial buildings, including numerous churches (of course). The streets are and sidewalks are made of thick, rough-hewn cobblestones, and they are steep and narrow and run between low, thick-walled colonial buidlings of beige, brown salmon and burnt orange with wrought iron railing on upstairs windows and narrow terraces. The overall effect is of a maze of alleys that are somewhat charming but con become either really romantic or somewhat ominous at night, depending on your perspective. Its a college town as well as a popular tourist stop, with 40,000 students including law and med.
The hostel was run by the son of its founder, and it was definitely socially oriented. Beers were available from the fridge for $15 pesos ($1.50 US). Both nights we were there, Ernesto instigated drinking outings, which Jesse and I due to our good upbringings felt obliged to participate in. We met a number of fun travlers here, including two Swiss girls, a recent Harvead grad on a fellowship (or something) to find humanity, a young, very happy and hard-drinking Japanese couple, an American retiree from Long Island, etc. We also had drinks with the French-Ukranian couple who are traveling our same route by motorbike. Etc. Much fun was had by all, though the 2 mornings were a little foggy, and when we left, we were ready to.
