Mexico Travel Highlights
Last week, I went on my first trip to Mexico. It is funny that it took me this long to cross the border, especially since I live relatively close to it. This trip was a special one. I got to go with my dear friend Caro. I mentioned her on the blog before — how she guided me to mass and kickstarted this desire to grow closer to God. Without her influence in my life, I would definitely be a lost soul. She has truly been a source of light and positivity.
Since the both of us work remotely, we have been wanting to travel together for the longest of time. As you know, I have been spending a lot of my year hopping from place to place. One of the joys of working remotely is that you have greater flexibility in managing your schedule and working independently. Caro wanted to join in on the fun of being a digital nomad like myself, so we decided to go to Mexico together — more specifically Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende. Now, I know what you are thinking… Why not Cancún or Cabo San Lucas? Well, we wanted to go somewhere unique, a place that wasn’t a total tourist trap. I’m glad I visited San Miguel and Guanajuato for my first trip to Mexico. I got an authentic view of Mexican culture and history.
1. Quince Rooftop Dining
Rooftop dining became a regular affair when I was in Mexico. A typical rooftop dinner in San Diego typically costs an arm and a leg. But in Mexico, rooftop dining is affordable (even for an employee in academia like myself lol!). Out of all the rooftops that we went to, Quince was my favorite. The food was delicious. Quince served Asian fusion food. I know it sounds odd to be eating Asian food in Mexico. Surprisingly, I really liked the restaurant’s take on Asian cuisine. Additionally, the view from Quince was incredible. I could see the church Iglesia San Rafael Escuela de Cristo up close. Caro and I ordered the green ceviche, shrimp tempura, mixed rice bowl, and dessert platter (cheesecake baklava, molten lava cake, and pan de muerto). I was stuffed!
2. Mercado Ignacio Ramirez
Make a stop at this market for some snacks, drinks, and artisan goods. I got myself a freshly squeezed cup of orange juice for 25 pesos! It was super refreshing and delicious. This grand market is neighbors with an artisan market that sells craft jewelry, various knickknacks, and fun toys for children. Caro and I bought matching pearl gold rings from one of the vendors there. She made a pearl ring specifically for my finger. It was a cute and unique souvenir for our first trip together.
3. Monumento a El Pipila
At this monument, you will get the best view of Guanajuato. It sits at the top of the hill and many people come to El Pipila to see the colorful buildings of Guanajuato from a bird’s eye view. I thought it was absolutely breathtaking. Guanajuato reminds me of the colorful buildings that I encountered when I was walking around the streets of Sevilla. The vibrant buildings make the city come to life. To get to the city center, you’ll also get to drive through various tunnels. Driving in the streets of Guanajuato is a unique and semi-terrifying experience (lol). Luckily, our driver Rafa knew exactly what he was doing.
4. Ex Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera
Of all the travel blog posts that I saw on Pinterest about Guanajuato, not one of them mentioned this hacienda. If you are lover of flowers, greenery, and architecture, this is the spot for you. This hacienda was once owned by Barrera and his family. It was also a place for mining operations. Now, it houses many gardens with themes of different places around the world. I loved the Mexico and English garden. We paid a visit to all of the gardens in the hacienda. Caro and I had a lot of fun snapping photos. Everything was so beautiful that we felt called to capture literally everything. If you are looking for an “instagrammable” place, this is the spot. The hacienda also makes a mean non-alcoholic pina colada there if you’re looking for a refreshing drink on a sunny day.
5. El Cristo Rey
Although it is roughly a one-hour drive from the Guanajuato City Center, El Cristo Rey is truly worth the visit. Many people flock from all parts of the world to El Cristo Rey to encounter Christ. People bike and walk from the bottom of the mountain to the top as a pilgrimage. People camp at the top of the mountain praying in adoration. When I was up there and saw this large statue of Christ, my heart nearly stopped. It was so grand and magnificent. I truly felt his presence in that moment. El Cristo Rey is the second biggest statue of Christ in the world (smaller than Christ the Redeemer in Brazil). Grab food at one of the vendor stalls on the way down from El Cristo Rey. Our driver, Rafa, took us to one of his favorite “buffets” where I got to try Mexican food cooked by an abuela who owned the stall for years! The food was delicious.
Special thanks to Caro and Rafa (our driver) for putting this whole trip together. It truly was one for the books! I will keep the memories that I have of Mexico close to my heart. I have two more trips planned for this year before it ends. Make sure to subscribe to my mailing list for more of my travel highlights! You can find more life-related posts here. Stay tuned for more updates on my adventures.
Emily
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