Queretaro, Mexico (December 2023)

 

After we left CDMX and made a stop at Teotihuacan, we drove for a while to make a lunch stop at San Pedro.

Laater, we arrived at Queretaro. Its full name is Queretaro de Santiago. The stop was rather short, but we felt comfortable about the shortstop because we already visited this city and spent a few days there four years ago.

Queretaro is the fifth largest city in Mexico thanks to the rapid growth in population for the past 20 years in conjunction with its role as a transportation hub for trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Queretaro is located on the shortest highway from CDMX to Texas. 

One of the landmarks of Queretaro is the Roman-style aqueduct. It was built in 1723 by Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana, Marquis of Villa del Villar del Aquila. What a long name! There is a love story. Marquis fell in love with one of the nuns in Queretaro. Because he was so persistent, the nun asked for an aqueduct to supply fresh water into the city. He actually built it and she became his wife.

Marquis

We arrived at Queretaro on Christmas Day. So the central park, decorated with Nativity scenes, was packed with people and merchants. We spotted colorful baby dolls and colorful hats for men, more than anything else.

Elsewhere in the city was a statue of a lady Josepha. She was the wife of a mayor of Queretaro. When the conspiracy of Hidalgo and his followers uprising against the Spaniards was discovered, Josepha took a chance to inform Hidalgo of the leak and Hidalgo was able to change the plan, thus achieving success. She is honored for her heroic action.

It was a joyful revisit to this city unknown to many people. - Jeffrey