On July 27 my wife, Sarah, and I took a one-week trip to Zacatecas, Mexico. Our goal was to take in the world flavors of the annual Festival Zacatecas del Folklor International that spreads out around the colonial city over a week.
Situated in central Mexico at 8,400 feet, Zacatecas, the capital of the state of Zacatecas, offers a rich blend of history, art, cultural events, restaurants, cafes and a bustling downtown that is mostly walkable. And the weather was nearly identical to ours on the Central Coast.
We flew out of San Jose with Volaris, a two-and-a-half-hour direct flight. They fly every Monday to Zacatecas and back to San Jose.
A short cab ride from the small airport into the city’s hub took us to the door of our home for the next seven nights, El Méson de Obito Hotel, right in the center of town. The friendly man at the desk figured we were in town for the festival, so he ushered us out the front door and pointed to a large stage two blocks away where music, a large crowd and dressed-up dancers were in full swing. That set the tone for our visit.
The International Folk Dance Festival, which we have visited several times over the years, featured day and evening performances of dance and music from France, Poland, the Canary Islands, Colombia, Chile, Croatia and, of course, all over Mexico.
Zacatecas was designated a city in 1585, two years after locals showed rocks to the Spaniards, who then learned they contained gold and silver. During the colonial era, Zacatecas produced as much as half of the world’s silver.
Being the rainy season, we were fortunate to have a mild climate our entire stay.
On our first evening we took a short walk through narrow cobblestone corridors through downtown to one of our favorite eateries from the past, Restaurante Mariscos La Plata. Their camarones al mojo de ajo (shrimp with garlic) and famed shrimp cocktail were the perfect first meal of our visit.
Then we walked a short distance to our first dance performance, this one with folks from Croatia. Colorful attire, great musicianship and warm spirits filled the stage and brought many folks to the small dance area at the front of the stage. The performances at outdoor plazas and arenas are free. There are a few indoor shows at Teatro Calderón with a fee.
In the next part of this series we head out to Guadalupe to visit a spectacular church and museum and take in a wealth of great restaurants.
PHOTOS:
Mex travel 1:
HISTORIC CITY Avenida Hidalgo threads through the central historic district of Zacatecas, Mexico. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)
Mex travel 2:
STREET FOOD A man prepares beverages he sells along the streets of Zacatecas with the help of his burro named Frank. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)
Mex travel 3:
IN STEP Folk dance troupes from around the world hit the streets of Zacatecas for the International Folk Dance Festival. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)
Mex travel 4:
FACES The Rafael Coronel Mask Museum, which is within walking distance of downtown Zacatecas, features more than 10,000 works, both new and old. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)
