Most people love the look of a sleek Greyhound unless it is a Greyhound Bus. Bus travel in the US is very different from that in Mexico and much of Central and South America. The bus ride from Mexico City to Queretaro was clean and comfortable in our beautiful first-class coach. The coach came complete with a bathroom, plush seats, leg rests, and personal TVs. However, our trip was a bit longer than expected as the main highway was closed, and we took a detour through the countryside and quaint small towns before rejoining the planned route.
When we pulled into our destination, the Queretaro Central Bus Depot, although it was crowded it was easy to navigate. We made our way through the terminal and out the front door where we immediately spotted our good friend Terry Garfink. After a brief greeting, Terry led us to a taxi for our trip to the old town.
Genuinely nice highways and streets with modern high-rise buildings perched on the hillsides. I remember the first stop sign we came to it looked like we were in Rome, the aqueduct looming overhead certainly felt like a Roman Deja vu moment.
Old Friends and New Friends in Queretaro:
Our reason for a visit to Queretaro was based on a friendship and working relationship with Steve and Terry Garfink. Steve and I both write and present for International Living. He is the IL expert on Social Security, and I present Medicare for them. We left the beautiful beach of Playa El Rompio, Panama for a planned visit with the Garfinks.
Steve and Terry arrived in Queretaro two years earlier for a two or three-day stopover and fell in love with the people and city. However, they didn’t begin calling Querétaro home until the second day of their visit. They live in a historic villa conversion with six one-bedroom apartments centered around a stunning inner courtyard. The building is a quaint B&B and has an exceptional proprietor named Leo. At the time of our stay, Leo had three other ex-pat couples lodging there. However, lots of friends, both locals and travelers, were in and out visiting. Potluck dinners in the courtyard and evening appetizers on the rooftop deck made our stay memorable
The city is in the colonial highlands of central Mexico. It lies 213 kilometers (132 mi) northwest of Mexico City and sixty-three kilometers (39 mi) southeast of San Miguel de Allende. Queretaro is the capital and largest city of the state of Querétaro. Its population boasts 1,594,212 in the Metro area and 794,789 in the city. Established July 25, 1531, its historic center was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.
One of Queretaro’s claims to fame is that of Emperor Maximilian I, the conservative president of Mexico. It was in Queretaro in 1867 that Maximilian was defeated in the Siege of Querétaro.
Maximilian and two of his top generals were captured and after a short captivity, in May 1867, the emperor was sentenced to death along with Generals Mejía and Miramón in the Cerro de las Campanas.
That is the background, now let us take a walk around the UNESCO old town portion of this amazing city. Our apartment was located on Cinco de Mayo Blvd, in the Historic Center of the city.
Our Apartment in Queretaro:
Step out onto the street and you are in the middle of a cultural center filled with all the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells you would expect.
The streets are lined with authentic Mexican shops, souvenirs, food vendors, museums, beautiful historic architecture, and monuments. If you are fascinated by historic churches, as I am, then Queretaro is a jackpot of eye candy for you to absorb.
Historic Churches of Queretaro:
In part two of this Pictorial Tour of Queretaro, Mexico, we will walk the streets of the city of Queretaro. The city of Queretaro is a very old city, established in 1531, however, it is very well maintained. Its clean and neat appearance is partially attributed to the funds received and the criteria placed upon the city by UNESCO.
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