Mexico's Colonial Heartland
Guanajuato & San Miguel de Allende

		Mexico Photography Tour Details
		Dates	Apr 19–26, 2009
		Leaders	John Shaw and Terry Eggers
		Fee	$3,195 from Guanajuato, Mexico
		Deposit	$400
		Limit	16
			Terms and Conditions

It’s no coincidence that some of Mexico’s oldest and most beautiful colonial cities are in its mountainous heartland. Built during the booming "silver rush" period of the 1500s, Guanajuato, the capital of the state of Guanajuato, and neighboring San Miguel de Allende have been called the crown jewels of the colonial cities.

Guanajuato is a photogenic maze of twisted alleys and narrow cobblestone streets. Its elaborate mansions and baroque churches give the city a decidedly European feeling. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, all restoration and new construction in the historic district must conform to the 500-year-old architectural style. Lined with colonial buildings, often perched literally on top of each other, some of the 3,000 alleyways are packed so tightly that balconies almost form a canopy. The best way to explore these fascinating hillside byways is on foot. We meander through this graphic labyrinth, shooting colorful street scenes, zesty marketplaces and exquisite architectural details juxtaposed against vibrantly-painted stucco walls. Now and then we stop at one of the tree-shaded plazas with their gardens, fountains and cafés, to relax and enjoy local color.

San Miguel de Allende is another "must-shoot" location. It is, arguably, the prettiest of the colonial cities, and is well known as Mexico's most artistic community. This seductive little city with its clear nights and spring-like days is beautifully situated on the slopes of a hill facing the Laja River and the distant Guanajuato Mountains. San Miguel was declared a national monument in 1956, and retains much of its old-world flavor. Steep, cobbled streets are lined with bougainvillea-covered colonial mansions, brightly-colored cantinas and grand villas decked with colorful, sun-washed doorways, intricate stonework, wrought iron balconies and hanging lanterns. It’s not often that you find your hotel to be photographically appealing, but the high-ceilinged stucco walls, festooned with flowering vines, vibrant folk art and courtyard gardens with lovely fountains all provide a charming “photography oasis” at the end of the day.

We also have opportunities to explore the photogenic communities of Dolores Hidalgo with its Talavera pottery industry, Tequisquiapan, Bernal and Mineral de Pozos. These smaller "backwater" communities allow us to get further off the "beaten path" to experience their ornate churches, brightly painted colonial buildings and, in the case of Mineral de Pozos, the photogenic vestiges of its silver mining heyday from the mid-16^th to the late 19^th century.

Beautiful architecture, mild climate, colonial romance and great photography—it is difficult to choose the region’s best feature. Each day we find time to break away from these pleasures to glimpse some of our images on our laptops to get a sense of the day’s shoot. We not only capture an architectural wonderland with our cameras, but also learn how to improve those images in the digital world.



Day 1 (Apr 19)
Participants arrive at the Leon Airport and transfer to our hotel in Guanajuato, Mexico, in time to meet for dinner. (D)

Days 2–3
We wander through picturesque streets, alleys and plazas of Guanajuato. In the evening we ascend via funicular to a spectacular scenic overlook and photograph the city as twilight falls and lights illuminate the colorful buildings. (BLD)

Day 4
Morning departure for San Miguel de Allende, stopping to photograph in the Talavera pottery manufacturing town of Dolores Hidalgo along the way. Later, after settling into our lovely, historic accommodations, we begin our exploration of the beautiful city of San Miguel. (BLD)

Days 5–7
We stroll the streets of San Miguel with excursions to photogenic locations such as Tequisquiapan, Bernal and Mineral de Pozos. We return to San Miguel to enjoy the ambiance of this beautiful city for the last afternoon and evening. (BLD)

Day 8 (Apr 26)
Participants shuttle to the Leon Airport for afternoon flights home. (B)