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uanajuato is a magical place. The source of much
of the world’s silver and the cultural heart
of Mexico, its enchanting cities are adorned with theatres,
cathedrals and stunning colonial architecture. Beneath
the mountains may be silver, but the landscapes of
the Central Highlands are solid gold…expansive
valleys, cascading waterfalls and lush protected forests
where millions of monarch butterflies migrate each
winter. Begin with a trek through the magnificent Sierra
Madre and Transvolcanic Mountains, exploring villages,
dramatic landscapes and a silver mining ghost town.
Then spend a week studying Spanish and living with
a home stay family in the lively capital of Guanajuato
City, a World Heritage site that will captivate you
with its winding cobblestone streets, beautiful buildings,
vibrant arts scene and friendly locals. End your adventure
working and playing at an orphanage in San Miguel de
Allende, experiencing another way of life that will
make you see your own in a new light. |
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| Day 1–6 |
Our introduction to Guanajuato
begins at the very heart of Mexico where the
towering Cristo Rey statue welcomes all. Nearby,
the multicolored city of Guanajuato clings to
the side of a hill, but mountains to the east
call us to adventure. We find our trailhead in
the community of Santa Rosa de Abajo nestled
in the Mexican countryside. Follow the Camino
Viejo for two days, passing spectacular river
gorges, mysterious caves and lush tropical forests
that create an adventurer’s playground
in this ancient land of the Huestecs. Our guide
helps us find the most beautiful spots, and offers
us a great chance to practice our Spanish. After
passing through the ceramic village of Dolores
Hidalgo, we stop to soak our sore muscles in
La Gruta or Agua Magica, channels of thermal
hot springs forming into pools. We end our adventure
in the silver mining ghost town of Pozos. Horseback
ride through this fascinating and once bustling
city. Explore the abandoned cobblestone streets
and mines with a local guide and learn about
this important aspect of Mexico’s economy
and history. |
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| Day 7–11 |
Guanajuato is a vibrant city
with nearly a quarter of its population attending
the university. Here, we live with home stay
families and focus on our studies and language
immersion. We spend our mornings at our institute
in the heart of the city, working with our professors
on interactive lessons and activities. Outside
the classroom, salsa lessons test more than our
Spanish ability and cooking classes delight our
senses. Guanajuato’s maze of narrow cobblestone
streets and alleyways begs to be explored. Traffic
is diverted into underground tunnels that follow
ancient river beds beneath the city, leaving
the charming streets open for pedestrians to
meander to parks, plazas and markets. Our professors
continue to develop our Spanish skills with insights
into the Monumento al Pípila, the site
of a pivotal battle in Mexico’s War of
Independence, or a fascinating visit to the Mummy
Museum. |
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| Day 12–14 |
Between classes and workshops,
we test our developing Spanish skills on a wild
scavenger hunt that takes us all over the city,
from the Hildago Mercado to the Callejón
del Besó. Meet friends at the central
Jardín de la Unión to check out
the local music scene. Experience a refined performance
at the historical Teatro Juárez. Join
a weekend callejoneadas parade, and wind your
way through the narrow streets with costumed
musicians who entertain the crowd with songs
and stories. Depending on the schedule, we may
even get a chance to see a bullfight at the Plaza
de Torres in San Miguel de Allende or watch León
or Irapuato play a local soccer match. |
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| Day 15–21 |
Conversational Spanish comes
easier now, and we’re ready for our next
adventure. We explore another side of Mexico’s
culture as we travel to San Miguel de Allende
to work with the children of Mexiquitos Orphanage.
It’s hard to imagine having more fun while
making a real difference in the lives of these
children. Prepare for piggyback rides, playing
in the rain, soccer, patty cake, chalk drawing,
swimming, dancing and just being a kid again.
These niños have few material possessions
and little exposure to the outside world. Eager
for our friendship, they embrace our group. Our
new young friends are also quick to help with
our Spanish skills! These busy few days fly by,
but the lessons learned for both our group and
the children will last a lifetime. While gaining
a perspective on the children’s very different
lifestyle, we leave with new insights on our
own. We depart Guanajuato reluctantly, but with
wonderful memories, a firsthand appreciation
of an amazing culture and a much better ability
to communicate in Spanish.  |
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