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Mexico: 23 Destinations to Spend the Winter Months
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Guanajato
No. 3 of 23 (this is not a ranking)
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Guanajuato - Jardin de la Unión - The Best
Part 3 of 3

(due to technical difficulties - excuse the spacing of this article) 
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Drumroll Please!

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In the name of "Travels With Lobo", I hearby declare that
the "Jardin de la Unión" in the "Centro Historico" of Guanajato is the most
beautiful triangular-shaped park in all the Americas.

 In this declaration I also include the area around the park
that would include the beautiful Teatro Juárez .

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Walk around the Jardin de la Unión a couple of times and you will
fall in love with it, at least that is what happened with us.

 The buildings surrounding the park are elegant and recall
the Spanish colonial past of this city. Of special note are the elegant Hotel
Luna located at Jardín de la Unión N° 6, the Templo de San Diego and the
nearby Teatro Juarez.

Because of the thick canopy of ficus Benjamina tree branches
and leaves (yes, there are some leaves even in winter) covering most of the
park, a great feeling of intimacy is created. To take full advantage of this
unusual ambiance there are an abundance of outdoor cafes, shops, artists,
street vendors and of course, park benches. This is after all the unparalleled
focal point of the "centro historico" where people gather to extract the vibes
that this extraordinary place has to offer .

 Also remarkable are the broad sidewalks that have a
clean, welcoming marble-like surface. The trees with their white painted trunks
contrast sharply with the smooth surface of the walkways. In the interior of
the triangle is a gazebo surrounded by a French garden that is in bloom, even
in December.

 Tree trimming throughout the park adds a lot to its
beautiful appearance but I was especially impressed with the trimming of the ficus
Benjamina trees (my guess) facing the surrounding streets. They were trimmed in
such a way as to provide a flat wall to the outside world, so in essence the
trees provide an exterior wall and a ceiling for the park.

 If you still aren't convinced, have a good close look at
the photos. Click on the thumbnails to get a better look.

This was Christmas Eve after all so we were drawn back in
the evening for supper at one of the outdoor cafes on the Jardin de la Union .
It was here that we savoured a great meal as well as the ambiance of this
remarkable park. And yes, they did have great "crusty buns" which is why I must
also rate Guanajuato high on the "Crusty Bun Scale".

Guanajuato in the news: February 14, 2009

 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008743445_mexkiss140.html

Finally:

Is Guanajuato the Place for You?

 

Advantages

- it is a city with a superb "centro historico

- living in the centro historico without a car would be
ideal

- the physical setting of this city is beautiful              

- real estate prices and rentals are more affordable than
San Miguel de Allende

- there is no large expats enclave such as there is in San
Miguel de Allende and Ajijic   (some would consider
this to be an advantage)

- English is not often heard in the street (an advantage for
some)

- this is one of the most beautiful Mexican towns without a great cultural shock

- it is a university town providing intellectual stimulation
as well as plenty of watering holes to keep the students happy

- greater necessity to speak Spanish (depends on point of
view)

- city is large enough to have good shopping (Costco, Wal-
Mart, Home Depot)

- temperate summer temperatures, if you are staying year
round

- it rates high on the "WOW FACTOR" and low on the "YIKES
FACTOR" and it was the first city to get on the "CRUSTY BUN SCALE" .

Disadvantages

- like all of the central plateau, because of altitude
(+6,000 feet in this case) night time winter temperatures (just above freezing)
are lower than may be desirable

- generally there is no heating provided in hotels

- not ideal for a car due to limited space to get
around town and underground tunnels make driving in the downtown area
problematic
 - lack of a strong expat community if that is of importance

- greater necessity to speak Spanish (depends onpoint of view)

 - security concerns: for a very blunt assessment see

http://www.mexican-living-guanajuato.com/crime_Guanajuato.html

Conclusion:

Let's see now, I have now written my third blog extolling
the virtues of Guanajuato . This is not going to be a tough decision as
Guanajuato would definitely be a destination that would be worth discovering if
you are not put off by the colder night time winter temperatures nor the
security concerns.

 Here are some valuable sources:           

 http://groups.google.com/group/gtolist?pli=1

 This is the place to post everything that has to do with
living, visiting, working in or dreaming of Guanajuato.  

 Guanajuato vs. San Miguel de Allende

 http://bb.ourmexico.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1161

 Some REAL ESTATE websites:

 This is an interesting site discussing Guanajato City real estate at:

 http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/articles/guanajuato-city-real-estate-a-colonial-gem-in-central-mexico-52084 .aspx

 Here is an example of a real estate website found at random:

 http://www.realtorguanajuato.com.mx/eng/#

 click the links for sales or rentals

 then there is alway the "Vacation Rentals by Owner" wesite which is good for anywhere you travel:

 http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/region/mexico/central-mexico/guanajuato

 Comment: prices seem expensive but maybe you are getting qualityothers websites:

Other websites:
 http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/Guanajuato-Central-Mexico.html

 http://www.guanajuatorentals.com/

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Coming Soon:
Is It Safe to Travel in Mexico?

Comments/Questions:   travelswithlobo@yahoo .com