Introduction, a GTO video series, and a question

[peripateo]

Greetings all!

My family is planning our first trip to GTO in early October. I am a high school Spanish teacher and have had GTO on my radar for several years now. In fact, in the textbook I use at school, there is a video series that is based in the city. The basic plot follows a mother and daughter who travel to GTO. The mother teaches at a bilingual school in San Antonio, TX and is being sent to Mexico to initiate a cultural exchange program with a school in GTO. The back story is about the mother's father, a man who immigrated to the US from Mexico under the bracero program and fought for the US in WW II. He recently died, and on his death bed, made mention of his mexican family, which was news to his American family, especially his granddaughter. What did he mean by his "mexican family?" ponders the granddaughter.

Long story short, the teacher and her daughter travel to GTO and the daughter meets a nice boy who shows her around town. Turns out, this boy has a long-lost grandfather who left Mexico long ago looking for opportunity in the more prosperous North. As you guessed it, it's the same man, and the girl and boy are actually cousins. The production quality is quite poor, but nonetheless it introduced me to GTO.

Before beginning the episodes that are shown each chapter, the textbook presents information about GTO, its popular sites and legends and local information. It also introduces a bit about SMA and Dolores Hidalgo, as they visit or make reference to those in the video.

Interestingly enough, the legend of the Callejon del Beso resonated with one of my students so much, that she was inclined to offer a presentation to her classmates about it.

If you're still reading, let me get to my point. My wife and I are bringing our almost 5 year old daughter. Now I'm sure some of you expats are grandparents, and perhaps you've hosted grandchildren in the city or have at least looked at the city through grandparent lenses. What activities and sites would you recommend for us? We are staying near Plaza Mexiamora. Any and all thoughts are welcome.

[DonaldW]

Does she speak Spanish? If not, there are not any children's programs that I am aware of for English speakers here in Guanajuato, Guanajuato. There is simply not a very large English speaking community that lives here. (San Miguel de Allende will be a vastly different story with many programs in English provided to the extremely large expat community living there.)

It's sort of the charm of the city of Guanajuato that it remains a Spanish speaking destination for the most part. And while the city appears to entertain its fair share of tourists, today there is no blatantly obvious "crafted as a tourist magnet infrastructure" that one typically encounters in other tourist destinations. And this is something that both the small community of invading expats as well as the long-time citizens of the community can agree upon.

In the least words to sum up this city, it is a typical Mexico city in so many ways, where normal commerce is the order of the day, and not that much else. And with that you don't have the typical street vendors, balloon and other venders or many at all of the hundreds of tacky (or appealing, depending on the way you look at it) glitter that normally has the tourists packing and filing in.

However, this does not negate from the rich history of the area and for that I would hope your grand daughter could depend on you to supply your knowledge and English presentation of it or that you that you could obtain the services of one of the university professors of history at the many learning centers in the city who could possibly take time to give you an overview as you translated it for your young grand daughter.

Again because GTO GTO is not a tacky tourist area, there are no barkers of basic knowledge walking the street to offer a service of questionable value nor is there any city certification program to guarantee the reliability of anyone you might find on the street claiming to be a historian. In GTO, everyone appears busy working and it often seems that the tourists standing frozen and looking above while blocking the busy streets are just a distraction rather than an object of income to them.

Now with all this said, I am still not confident I answered your question or gave you a response you may be happy with. San Miguel de Allende would have the better English speaking infrastructure. Hearing a tour in English which included a rich and accurate review of the past in Guanajuato city, well that's going to be sort of a long shot.

[DonaldW]

On second thought, I do remember a couple of people by the green tourist booth in the Plaza Union who are barking as tour guides. I cannot attest to their skill level or services provided.

(Sorry but after so long of "selective hearing" it becomes easy to not even see the things that don't typically concern you.)

Personally I would nab a Lonely Planet or a history book in Spanish, grab a map at the (I) information booth and hit the pavement. Often self guided tours are the best. Some people are into the mines (will take someone who knows someone to get a really good tour down into it), some into the mummies, some into the Pipila, some the calajones, you know - different strokes for different ..... . There are many standard attractions. A warning that the funicular has recently crashed, so you'll not have that an option until it is repaired. Another thing is that GTO is not known for excellent restaurants. Lots of potato filled enchiladas (called "Miners enchiladas" - but personally - give me meat!!!) and it's hard to find a combo of good-food/inexpensive combo in the sidewalk cafe department, well outside of Delica Mitsu Japanese perhaps. There are other good ones, but I'm running out of space and time. Enjoy your trip!

More of what to do:
https://www.google.com/search?q=points+o...8&oe=utf-8

[peripateo]

Donald,
I appreciate your taking time to respond. The less touristy vibe is why we chose GTO over SMA. I don't expect any special services for tourists. Just want a heads up as to what exists in every-day city life that we could tap into while we are there and could be of interest to our daughter. We live in a small, monochromatic (culturally and racially speaking) community in the US and are eager to expose our daughter to new experiences whenever possible. While a history tour is of interest to me (as is the Quixote iconography museum, etc.), those are things I'll have to pursue during nap time as they won't appeal to a 5 year old. Where do families with children gather on the weekends and the evenings? Where and when might we find public music performances? Any park/playground structures?

Thanks again!

[pianoheat]

There's a brand new large play ground as you come into town near the Real de Minas hotel I believe if you stroll the streets and read the bulletin boards you will find activities your 5 year old will enjoy. Often on the weekends there are clowns performing on the steps in front of teatro Juarez I don't speak much Spanish and still enjoy them very much

[peddler665]

Highly recommend Leon's very humane zoo with white tigers in addition to a African Velt "Safari" including magnificent white Lions. A delight for kids & old guys like me.
Also the Frog Park in Guanajuato looks like fun for kids.

[jesm]

The park at La Presa de Olla has some green space for running around and they rent lanchas, row or pedal, in the lake. Always seem to be lots of families with kids enjoying this area. The Bicentanario complex advertises a Parque Extrema, zip lines, go carts but that might be a tad much for your 5 year old. I believe there are classes and workshops in music and theatre focused to children run by UoG or others. Plus your October arrival will be in time for Cervantino and they include childrens events as well.

[DonaldW]

I love La Presa de Olla too. Good for kids of all ages. A couple of weeks ago or three (was it?) they let the dam waters open up for the yearly celebration. Quite a fiesta but it is still good for and fun on a calm day. I often go there to relax. You already picked one of the best spots for finding what goes on in Guanjuato, at a super slow pace, however - Plaza Mexiamora will be a great place to watch what goes on and reasonably far enough away from the tourist area. I often sit there for an hour or more. But it is mainly a place with those in mind who have enough time to see all of the scenery known to Guanajuato come to you and as slowly as it will unfold there for you.

[peripateo]

Thanks all for the helpful responses! We are leaving the day the Cervantino festival begins on Oct. 7th, which is a bummer, but our travel dates are dictated by my fall break from school.

[peddler665]

I can not beleive I failed to mention The Presa as I stay near by. The various type of boats are a delight for a family to rent.
I like just hanging at one of the cafes reading, snacking, sunning & people watching.