Allgemein EN – Page 17 – Kat´s Truth about Travelling

Antique Roman Monument Guadalajara

The ancient Roman Hall of Columns - as I'll call it for now - is actually called the ‘Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres’ and is a kind of large circular arch supported by columns. I know that sounds cryptic and strange, but I just don't know how to describe this thing. It's quite easy to find though as it's in the centre near the main cathedral. And it's also quite easy to walk round because it's not particularly big and surrounded by a brass fence with golden spikes - which means Instapics are difficult. Go or not? Since I would definitely go to the centre if I were in Guadalajara, I would also take this with me and maybe just chill out on one of the benches on site.

Main Cathedral & Square – Guadalajara

The main cathedral of Guadalajara as well as the central square are located in the centre of Guadalajara. If you look at Guadalajara on maps... it will probably not be immediately clear what is meant by ‘centre of Guadalajara’. Simply because the sights in Guadalajara are somewhat spread out - including the cathedrals. For example, I initially thought that another one was Guadalajara's main cathedral and wondered why it was so far away from what felt like everything else. The main cathedral, however, is close to a lot of other sights and you notice that immediately when you stroll through the centre. There are several other sights nearby, the old town and so on and so forth. Coming to the cathedral itself: It is beautiful and the square on which it stands has quite a nice fountain. There's not much more to say here. Simply because... Guadalajara is not the most attractive city in Mexico for tourists per se. And you can see that in the centre too. Not that it's not beautiful, just.... It's just that everything is very spread out and doesn't feel so super special. Go or not? If you're in Guadalajara, yes. Simply because the cathedral is close to a few other cool sights 😊

Church el Expiatorio

The Catedral el Expiatorio in Guadalajara is really beautiful - especially from the outside. From the inside the windows are particularly impressive. They are basically the highlight of the otherwise rather dark cathedral and therefore stand out even more. When I approached this cathedral, I thought it was the main cathedral - spoiler alert, it's not. Accordingly, I was a little surprised because it is a bit far away from the ‘tourist’ centre or from most of the sights in Guadalajara in general - although there isn't really a tourist zone in Guadalajara. But the city's structure really just confused me. Everything is very spread out, no real tourist centre and everything is just very... spread out. That really is the right word for the city. At the front of the church on the right is the Pope – at least that’s who I think it is - who blesses a cleric. And supposedly it brings good luck if you touch the priest's hand. Explains the faded spot 😉 Go or not? So if you want to visit Guadalajara - it's one of Mexico's largest cities after all and the party life is also quite nice - then I would walk past here. The cathedral is worth a visit both inside and out and there are two or three other things in the corner that you can pay a visit to 😊

Viewpoint – Zacatecas

The viewpoint in Zacatecas in short is really beautiful and the absolute best thing about the small city. You walk up through winding alleyways to the beginning of the walk up and then along a kind of path. At the top there is a platform with a statue and an already nice view. However, most people go even higher because, although there is no real path, everyone climbs up the big rock at the viewpoint and from there you have a really great view of Zacatecas and the surrounding landscape. I also sat down here and just enjoyed the view. 😊 Going down is basically the same as going up - except that it's a bit more scray than going up :D Oh and in the evening, the viewpoint is lit up with the Mexican flag - very cool. And I think that if you don't want to walk up, there's a cable car that goes up. But where that leaves from.... No idea. Go or not? Yes, I would actually say that if you're ever in Zacatecas, you absolutely shouldn't miss the viewpoint 😊

Zacatecas

Zacatecas is a small city in the let’s say north of Mexico between Monterrey (quite far north) and Guadalajara (which is more in the west of Mexico) - even though this is admittedly a really long distance. I took Zacatecas as a day trip stopover between two night buses and therefore didn't have much time. At the same time, Zacatecas doesn't have a huge amount to offer due to its size. But the streets are quite cute. Inside the centre, it's a bit like San Luís Potosí, except that I actually think San Luis Potosí is a bit nicer. Outside the centre, it's towards the viewpoint mainly winding alleyways and you get a bit of a Guanajuato vibe. The viewpoint for example is really beautiful by the way - but more on that in another post. Go or not? Travel up there for Zacatecas no, but it was a really cool stopover.

Viewpoint el Pinal

Park Chipinque has several viewpoints. After I had been there once with a friend for practically nothing because it was cloudy and we simply couldn't see anything, I went back again on my own. I had seen online that there is another viewpoint in Chipinque that is relatively easy to climb. My actual goal was the Copète el Aguila - which has a really great view according to Google - but to avoid another disappointment, I started my trip with a Pan B in my luggage – looking back I did well. The Copète el Aguila can only be climbed with a guide, who has to be booked in advance with some kind of assurance that you are suitable to climb the peak. So it's not that easy. Therefore I went to the viewpoint ‘El Pinal’ and made the short and somewhat steep climb up to the lookout platform. Admittedly, the view up there isn't the greatest, but it's still real sweet. Especially when you would otherwise have had to turn back without a view. On the way back, I saw a squirrel, a lizard and even a deer in the forest. Really cute. Go or not? I think that a visit to Chipinque is worthwhile. That's why I would try both lookouts when I'm there. The only problem is that they are quite far apart. Means you have to be there quite early and carry a bit of endurance with you.

Museum of the Car – Monterrey

Tiny, but somehow really cool. And by tiny, I mean one room. And a relatively small one on top. I still wonder how they managed to fit so many cool classic cars into a small space and somehow make the museum look really cool despite its size. But from the beginning: I still had a bit of time left towards the end of my time in Monterrey, so I dug a little deeper for things to do in Monterrey and came across this museum. I'm not a car fan or anything, but classic cars... I mean, who doesn't think they're kind of cool? So I went - warning to all the women out there, the vibe of the area where I arrived by train is... a bit... I don't know... deserted, run-down, sketchy. Like not bad bad, but you don't really feel comfortable. So I left pretty quickly and only took out my phone once to orientate myself. The museum itself is located in a park - unfortunately only a regular one - and costs 10 pesos? It was really not much, but it did cost a minimal amount. And inside you can then see old plaques and signs on the walls, really cool vintage cars, a wooden carriage and all that sort of thing. Of course you get through pretty quickly, but I thought it was really nice 😊 Go or not? Um.... Because of how I received where you arrive, I would if actually go with another person, because there was just no one there and the vibe just wasn't cool. Whether it's worth it or not.... Only if you have time to spare, because it's a bit further away and you either have to take an Uber or the metro.

Steel Furnace Museum – Monterrey

No, I'm usually not really interested in Museums of steel. However, this museum looked quite interactive online and I confess I was interested in the view. :D Cause you online can see that you can go up via lift. And as Monterrey is surrounded by mountains - including the Cerro de la Silla - I thought “interactive museum and viewpoint together, why not”. The museum was also reasonably priced, so I just went for it. Admittedly, I hardly remember the museum itself. But I am pretty sure to remember that is was cool so far and also quite interactive. The view however, I remember very well. Also taking the lift up to the top, walking between all the steel pipes and the entire structure and watching the sun slowly sink lower on the horizon. That was.... And the view... let's just say I was right :D You have a direct view of the Cerro de la Silla and the surrounding area and park. A really great view. So for me totally worth it 😊 Go or not? Yes and no. If you're interested in museums of steel or steel construction or you're crazy about viewpoints, yes. Otherwise, no 😉

Park Fundidora

The biggest and most positive surprise for me in Monterrey. 😊 The Parque Fundidora starts at what I assume is an artificial river with a bridge over it and cool mosaic pictures on the wall. Then you walk along waterfalls on a really chique, clean and beautifully made path that takes you past various opportunities to chill and is lined with shrubs and trees. Eventually you arrive at the entrance to the real Park Fundidora, where there are now also boat trips on the widened river. Here you basically walk along the path of the park until you reach the end of the river, in the middle of which there is a viewing platform from where you have a great view of the Cerro de la Silla. If you walk further down the park, you will pass various other things - such as a pretty cool museum. But more to that in another post. And then, when the sun goes down and you walk back again and it slowly but gradually gets darker and darker, you realise that you still haven't seen the most beautiful thing about this park: the trees at the entrance to the park are decorated with lights. Have you ever walked along a river that was lined with trees full of lights? Beautiful and incredibly romantic. Go or not? On second thought, definitely one of my highlights in Monterrey and definitely the biggest surprise. Especially the lights in the trees. Not to be missed 😊

Cerro de la Silla

The Cerro de la Silla is definitely one of Monterrey's most majestic views, because it is part of Monterrey's skyline like no other mountain and really overlooks everything. That's exactly why I wanted to go up there. Unfortunately, I got really unlucky and that's exactly why this hike will be a lesson to me for forever. I have hiked up many different mountains in Mexico and Central America for a view and although it mostly was max modreatly difficult or slighlty exhausting, it was still always within reasonable limits. That means the climb was of course sometimes tough but not fucking eternal and seemingly endless. At Cerro de la Silla, I looked at my online map on my phone so often - and was shocked every time at how little further I had come in the overall course - that I honestly only kept going because I thought to myself ‘if not now, then when?’ Admittedly, I was going up alone, but that never really wore me down (except for the Chipinque. You think you'll never get there on that eternal road). The ascent to Cerro de la Silla is really exhausting, very long, sometimes felt too long and to be honest I was afraid at some point that I wouldn't make it down before nightfall. Meaning: you need good shoes, plenty to eat and drink and company! Let's move on to reason number two why this mountain will forever remain a negative memory for me. When I finally, after what felt like ages, a hundred thousand thoughts about turning back and just letting it go - damn me for always having to finish everything! - and, to be honest, I was really exhausted when I reached the top, I simply gazed into a sea of white clouds. And no, I didn't faint or anything like that, but it was fucking cloudy! Meaning that I didn't get to see the incredible and fantastic view that was supposed to pay me back for this really long, really strenuous, super winding and simply arse-long climb. Simply because the Cerro de la Silla was shrouded in a thick blanket of clouds. I had a wonderful view of the place where everyone sits down and from where you can admire the view. It was nice and sunny and everything was fine, but the entire view - everything - was swallowed up by a thick blanket of white clouds. That was the moment I swore to myself that I would always check three times in the future that the weather would play along and that the conditions would be fine. And yes, of course I saw the clouds on my way up. But I didn't connect it and so I felt like I had gone to my limits and beyond for nothing and nothing again to get up this stupid mountain. Well, that's the story of why this hiking trail and this mountain almost burnt themselves into my memory like a nightmare. But the view in between is really beautiful though! 😊 Go or not? I'm biased here. So, if you like views, are wellprepared concernign food and drinks for the way up, enjoy good physical activity and also like running up steep paths - because the curves in particular (and it's very winding) are really tough and steep at times - then grab a group of people who are also up for it and get up there in good weather. Otherwise no, because I was really pissed off when I got up there...