helen63

Baldone, we just went there, and he played with a gitarist.Wonderful! Apparently, our concierge was confused and only a gitarist was different. We had such a great time! thank you so much for this recommendation!

helen63

We came back from a glorious week in Mexico, and I just wanted to say Thank you so much for all this help in planning of our trip. GTO, SMA, and QRO are all beautiful, and in its own way.
A trip really surpassed my expectations, and on the way back I was already ready about other regions of Mexico.
We used a lot of your recommendations for food and restaurants - in GTO (La Tula twice, Los Campos, Las Mercedes), in SMA (La Posaditas, El Hecho (great music), La Parroquia,Posada de Carmen), in QRO - 1810 - all very good!
La Casa de La Marquesa in QRO is one of the most beautiful hotels, I have ever seen. It was decorated for X-mas, and it was breathtaking (plus wonderful musicians in the restaurant).
A trip to Mineral de Pozo and surrounding ruins took my breath away (we had a private driver).
Food was great, and we could not get enough of night street parties and mariarchy.

We did not want to leave.... Thank you again everyone for all this priceless advice!

yestravel

Sounds like a wonderful trip!

helen63

Thank you, Yestravel! Yes, this trip surpassed my expectations, and change my perspective on travel in Mexico.

I was wondering, if anyone knows - around GTO and SMA - there are a lot of women dressed in traditional dresses, selling handmade dolls or jewelry or sweets. Who are these women? Are they from nearby villages? Do they belong to any of the local ethnic groups?

baldone

Hi Helen:
Glad you enjoyed your trip. Your OP reminded me of our own experience in that after many beach trips, we also decided to explore colonial Mexico. 15 years later, we ended up living here full time.
As for the women in traditional dress, they are either Nahuatl or Huichol, most likely Nahuatl (pronounced ny-wat). Both make the rounds but the majority are Nahuatl, or Aztec. Most live in the area, or in the outskirts of San Miguel.

helen63

Thank you, Baldone! You know in SMA, when I was walking in the market (my husband had to work that day), I was imagining I live there, and shop at that market, and come home to cook fresh food, and walk those streets, and do a little photography, and a listen to a music, and do some writing (I write in my native Russian), etc... This was such a nice thought! Unfortunately, no in the cards for now ... But I just loved these places... I talked to Pedro Cartas a bit during his break, and he suggested we attend his concert.... I wish we could...

baldone

Did he say where/when he was going to play? Besides Hecho's?

helen63

The was flyer on the wall at Hecho's, and he was supposed to be playing with 3 other people on different instruments. Unfortunately, I did not memorize where.