The End (of the alphabet, not the trip): Zacatecas

June 1 - 5

From Xilitla I headed towards Zacatecas.

My first stop was at Laguna Media Luna, where I had considered staying.  I had heard that this was an interesting place, and site for some good fresh water diving.  I had visions of a couple of days by the lake in my head.  Unfortunately, while it was pretty, it was basically a park where you could camp but otherwise there are no accommodations.  I had a swim and a beer, then was off to San Luis Potosi.

San Luis Potosi is another large city with a beautiful cathedral on the central square (are you seeing a pattern here... the Spaniards were nothing if not consistent).  For me it was just a stop for the night.  I had to keep moving, because there is a rumor that if you stand still in the central plaza for too long you will be bronzed and never able to leave, as happened to this gentleman.







On June 2 I arrived in Zacatecas.  This really is a beautiful colonial city, which also happens to have some of the most active street life that I have seen.  Everywhere you look there is some kind of street performance:  Clowns, bands, or singers.

The first "performance" I ran into, however, was a political demonstration protesting something or other that the government had done, was doing, or might do someday.  Just like at home!

The second performance was a bit more interesting:  I went on a tour of Zacatecan legends.  On the tour bus there were performers in costume both telling about the city and telling the "secret" legends of why things were as they were.  At the end we were all herded into an old monastery and more of the legends were acted out.  Definitely a unique perspective of the city, involving death, dismemberment, and the loss of virtue of a number of Zacatecans.

Zacatecas is built on several hills, and I think I walked them all.  On one hill is the Mina el Eden (Eden mine).  This was one of the most productive silver mines in Mexico.  After basically enslaving the local indigenous population (they were good at that) prodigeous amounts of silver were sent back to Spain.  While the tour of the mine was interesting, it was a bit of a Disneyland version of what a mine was like... complete with artificial miners.

From the top of the hill where the mine is located there is a telferico that goes to the city's other large hill: Cerro la Bufa.  The ride gives a spectacular view of the city and surrounding area.  At the top is (surprise !) another church and monastery.  Seeing a pattern here?

Unfortunately I was not feeling well in Zacatecas.  I haven't been having any problems up to this point, but I think that Montezuma was finally getting his revenge and while I felt like a king, it wasn't wise for me to stray too far from my throne. 

A comment about the convenience of the Mexican medical system:  I had brought some antibiotics with me for just this situation, but had used them up.  You can't buy antibiotics in Mexico without a prescription.  The convenience part is that attached to many pharmacies is a small medical office, staffed by an MD for most of the day and evening, and you can drop in for a consult for about US$2.50.  Now that's making things easy!

I stayed in Zacatecas a few days just to get myself feeling right, then it was off to Mazatlan.