Cathedral and Park – San Luis Potosí

Pretty, sweet and relaxed but lively. That's how I would describe the cathedral and park in San Luis Potosí. The city itself is in the north of Mexico and is one of those places where you can see very clearly that the centre has been pimped up and made pretty for tourists, but there's not too much apart from that. Like it’s that it's ugly, it's just that I found absolutely nothing cool to see or do outside the centre - even in my online research. That may also be though because most tourists come to the capital San Luis Potosí because of the surrounding nature of the state of San Luis Potosí. Which was also the case for me. Like shortly after I arrived I went straight on to Ciudad Valles, because from there you can get to some nice waterfalls. And on the way from another also touristy city you often have to stop in San Luis Potosí to get to Ciudad Valles. Yet the centre with the cathedral and the park is really beautiful and definitely worth a visit during the day and at sunset. There's just not much else in San Luis Potosí. Go or not? If you're in San Luis Potosí, one hundred per cent. I mean, why would you want to miss out on the most beautiful thing about this little city? However, unless you want to take in the waterfalls on the way, I wouldn't go to San Luis Potosí. It's really cute, but other small cities - some of which are even smaller - simply have more to offer. Nevertheless, of course I don't want to put anyone off 😊

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The Cristo Rey

The Day trip to the Cristo Rey statue from Guanajuato was definitely worth it. However, to this day I still wonder what attracted me to it, because I'm not religious. Personally, I think it was the pictures of the cool view and, to be honest, a bit of time that I had to spare. It's relatively easy to get there by bus. Simply take a bus from the bus station in Guanajuato. Once there you find yourself on a hill with a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape in front of you. If you look round to the Cristo Rey, you will see an imposing statue of Jesus towering above you - and inside the museum an oversized golden crown of thorns hanging over everything. Go or not? Yes and no. The view is really cool, but the one from Cerro la Bufa is better. And the Cristo Rey is almost two hours away. Mean, if you don't have time to spare, there are cooler and closer by views. But if you do still have time, it is an absolutely cool ad-on. 😊

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Cerro de la Bufa

The highest and definitely one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Guanajuato. It is located on one of the surrounding mountains of Guanajuato and can therefore only be reached via a hiking trail. However, the hike itself is not too difficult and relatively easy to do. I went up on a sunny day with two people from my hostel and was really surprised that I didn't have this hike with a view on my bucket list, because I would highly recommend hiking up the Cerro de la Bufa to anyone. You have a really beautiful view of Guanajuato as well as the surrounding countryside and mountains, you get out and really see the landscape around Guanajuato. You can also take some really cool photos of yourself on rocks if you have the time and the courage. All in all, a really cool day or half-day trip. At the top with the view, you can of course eat something, have a snack or do something else. And the view really isn't bad at all. Go or not? Yes, definitely. I would say do everything in Guanajuato itself first - which is pretty much possible in one day due to the size of Guanajuato (including the mummy museum) - and then I would go straight up this mountain afterwards 😊

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Viewpoint at the Lighthouse

Guanajuato has several viewpoints, each having something special. The viewpoint at the lighthouse is special to me because I honestly didn't find the way up on my own, but went up with a friend who was living in Guanajuato at the time and - to be honest - I can't remember where the entrance was. The second reason why the viewpoint from the lighthouse is special to me is because the path led up through pure nature. The third and final aspect that makes the viewpoint special is that it is local. Meaning that it is a little further off the beaten track and therefore not a tourist spot at all. My friend and I, for example, were up there on our own and didn't meet a single soul either on the way up or on the way down. Even though the view is really beautiful. On the way down, we admittedly took a somewhat unorthodox route that led cross-country because my friend had found his own way down. I was a little sceptical at first, but I discovered some really beautiful nature between the mountains and grasses and got to know Guanajuato from a completely different perspective. Go or not? I would say so, yes. It's not the first viewpoint I would go to - that's Pipila - but it's really beautiful up there and much quieter than Guanajuato usually is. You also pass the dams and the Park Florencio Antillón on the way.

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Park Jardín el Encantandor – Guanajuato

The perfect mix of calm and lively. That's how I would say I perceived the Jardín el Encantador. It's pretty much on the border between the centre and outside the centre and is therefore quite busy, but not too busy. It's also totally green and just perfect for chilling out or walking around a bit. 😊 I found it on one of my exploratory tours up and down Guanajuato's main street and was actually mainly walking in the area because of the ‘bridge’ that connects the centre with the non-centre in this corner – and which has a really nice view of the cityscape of Guanajuato. And well since I'm a curious person, I explored a bit further and discovered this park. Go or not? Absolutely nothing for the bucket list or sightseeing planning. But it is! If you need a little break or are in the neighbourhood anyway. Then a stroll through it would be nice I think😊  

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Mummy Museum

That's right. There is a mummy museum in Guanajuato. I admit that I was a bit sceptical at first. However, my curiosity drove me to the museum and I wasn't disappointed at all. The museum displays real mummies of adult men and women, as well as children. Everything is in subdued lighting, respectfully prepared and really not scary at all. I was kind of expecting a slight vibe of a horror movie, but nothing. At the end, there are even coffins that you can stand in and take a photo of yourself. Mexico simply deals with death differently than other countries, such as Germany in my case. Very interesting, very special, but also very cool. Like in the case of the museum (and also apart from that 😉) Go or not? As I didn't find the museum scary at all, but rather fascinating and... well, I mean when do you ever get the chance to visit a mummy museum... I would actually highly

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Streets of Guanajuato

Incredibly cute, beautiful, winding, narrow, steep and special. If I had to describe the streets of Guanajuato in a few short words, it would be this. The streets and their narrowness and the fact that they are so winding is part of Guanajuato and its charm. Also that depending on whether you are walking away from the centre or towards the centre, you are always going up or down. It's part of Guanajuato's landscape and the different coloured houses make it perfect. I honestly don't see how anyone could not like Guanajuato's cityscape or at least find it very cute and charming. And if you haven't just wandered around and lost yourself in the winding alleyways, you've missed out. Because yes, you will also pass very interesting, cute and colourfully painted places outside the city centre 😊 Go or not? I already answered that, didn’t I? :D

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Lake of Guanajuato

Quiet, somehow mysterious, but also beautiful and quite far from the centre. The two lakes or rather dams of Guanajuato are basically at one end of the city, but nevertheless in a very peaceful and beautiful setting and on the way to a viewpoint. That's how I came across both of them :D The road that winds along Guanajuato towards the outskirts of the centre is completely different from Guanajuato itself. Or let's say it’s Guanajuato in quiet. There are no tourists on the road and Guanajuato basically turns into just another Mexican city on that street, except for the tunnel entrance you pass and the winding road that climbs gently up the mountain. But the chilled vibe of Guanajuato remains. Then you pass the park Florencio Antillón, which you have to cross, and shortly afterwards you find yourself next to the Presa de Olla, dam of Olla. Here you not only have a really nice view of the water, but you can also go boating. I've seen a few boats on the water here. And it's not small. So why not? 😊 The Presa de San Renovato, the dam directly behind it, is a little hidden and actually doesn't always have water - depending on how dry and hot it is at the time. Nevertheless, you can walk along it through a kind of open corridor and then take the roads to the right and left of the dam to reach higher up, from where you can enjoy some very beautiful views. Go or not? I would simply take in the dams, just like the Park Florencio Antillón, on the way up to the lighthouse. The area is really beautiful and very quiet. It's just not like super cool. But for those who like it quieter and just a bit peaceful and pretty, go for it 😊

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Park Florencio Antillón – Guanajuato

Quiet, peaceful and really nice and green. And quite far away from the centre. :D I discovered the park that this post is about by chance. I was actually on my way to the area around the „lakes“, where there is also a path up to the lighthouse somewhere, from where you also have a really nice view of Guanajuato. – I didn't find the path up to the lighthouse that day. As life goes, you usually instead find something else. I that day passed numerous other interesting things on my way there. Including this park. Admittedly, I didn't really notice it at first until I discovered a waterfall at the end of the park. It makes sense given the location and proximity to the „lakes“, but I hadn't really thought about it. There also is a cute little bridge in the park and plenty of places to sit. And if you really wanted to get out into the ‘green’, have some peace and quiet and not be approached by anyone - which is not so easy as a white person in Latin America - I think this would be a place where you would be quite undisturbed. Because tourists might stray here from time to time, but I personally can't actively remember another non-Latin American person. Go or not? Yes and no. I would definitely take the route to the area and also up to the lighthouse, but I would rather take the park as an ad-on. And a little hint: the waterfall only really becomes a waterfall when it rains or has rained shortly before. It may be unfavourable weather-wise, but it does change into a quite different waterfall :D

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Viewpoint El Pipila

Beautiful and incredibly cute. I personally have many really nice memories of this place. As I love viewpoints - as mentioned in several other posts - I knew from day 1 that I absolutely had to go up to this viewpoint. Interestingly, the path up to it leads through winding alleyways and I'll be honest - I followed other people the first time. It's not like super easy to find the viewpoint if you don't find the right entrance or take a wrong turn along the way (although there aren't too many turning options on the way up). When I reached the top, it was clear within milliseconds that I had just arrived at my favourite place in Guanajuato. The view of Guanajuato from up there is seriously amazing. And to the left of/next to the viewpoint there is a café built up in steps, from where the view certainly as well is pretty good. Apart from that, the platform itself is large, but not huge and there are steps leading down to the platform when you arrive, where you can chill later once you've enjoyed the view. Because.... There is always something going on up there. There are always people - at really any time of day or night - and there's always a good atmosphere. Whether it's people playing music or others who have a speaker with them, people who have previously worked in the nightlife or evenings in Guanajuato and now want to enjoy the flair, or people who run up to the Pipila after partying to watch the sunrise. Because yes, sunset, night, sunrise and of course during the day - the Pipila is a amazing at any time. Both in terms of the vibe and the view. I once went up there myself with one of my best Mexican friends after partying for the sunrise and it was simply magical. A really special place in a special little student town. Go or not? To be honest, the question is oblivious. Like you can chose to not got up, but that‘s on you then :D

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