Querétaro
was not really in the itinerary. In my head, I was thinking that I should just
spend two days in San Miguel de Allende. But I knew that small towns easily
bore me, regardless how magical they are. Given how Querétaro was on the way
anyway, I decided that it merited at least a daytrip. Fine then, we will stop
by on our way back to Mexico City, and that’s exactly what I did. I thought the
city would be just like SMA, but it surprised me. It happens to be a good mix
of the old and the new.
Boasting
two entries on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites, a daytrip is not enough
to explore the city in all its glory, but they do make it easy to at least see
some of it if you are there for just a limited amount of time. This is where
the Querebús comes into the picture. Pretty much like the capital’s Túribus, Querétaro’s
own version has several lines that cater to particular interests. If you want a
one-hour tour, they have that. If you want something longer, they offer a
two-hour tour as well.
The
full name of the city is Santiago de Querétaro and its historic center is one
of the two UNESCO World Heritage sites we are talking about. This seems like a
common trend for most Mexican state capitals. We can’t blame them, though. The
government has made tremendous efforts in ensuring the preservation of their
colonial heritage, and it’s really evident when you get to visit them. The
ambiance is just so different, as if you’ve been caught in a time loop and
suddenly got transported back in time.
There
are several bus lines plying the SMA – Querétaro route. I took Pegasso for
around MXN69 (~PHP170). The bus ride is not supposed to take over an hour, but
Pegasso often stops to pick up passengers along the way. The trip took 20
minutes longer than expected and I was already famished when we arrived. As
such, I ran to VIPS to have lunch first. Besides, there was no hurry even
though I was worried that I’ll run out of buses going back to DF. You need not
worry either. That rarely happens.
The
city center is around 15 minutes by Uber from the main bus terminal, which has
free Wi-Fi so no problem if you don’t have mobile data. Uber is quite popular
in Querétaro so use it as often as you must. The historical city center is best
navigated on foot, but if you are in a hurry, you can always rely on Querebús. I
opted for the MXN80 (~PHP200) one-hour Route 6 itinerary. We got on a tram, but
I didn’t really enjoy the ride. I would have preferred the double decker buses,
but it all depends on the route.
The
tram is not a bad option. Just make sure that you get a window seat. Otherwise,
say goodbye to various photo opportunities. There are many on the way, you
know. The tour started as we turned right to the street running alongside the
river, which now seems all dried up. The tour guide is very informative but
since most tourists here are Mexicans, there seems to be no English version.
You’ll be able to catch on if you have a basic grasp of Spanish, even though
some jokes might remain incomprehensible to you.
Approaching
the aqueduct, or what remains of it, we were treated to views of modern
buildings on the hilltops. I guess this is what I love about Querétaro.
Regardless of your preference for either the old or the new, it’s guaranteed
that there’s something for you. The juxtaposition of the aqueduct and the modern
buildings is a good symbolism for the city’s heritage, as well as its current
reality today. The aqueduct is no longer working and is now just there for
display, and not a bad one at that.
What
followed were more cobblestoned streets. We ascended to a hilltop and stopped
in front of a church, where we were allowed to go sightseeing for 10 minutes or
so. Instead of checking out the interior, I just wandered around at the plaza
and checked out that area going downhill, which I somehow found to be more
interesting. It reminded me a bit of Europe, that area of Budapest on the
hilltop, to be specific. I did not go far because I had to catch the same tram
to bring me back to the main square.
The
tour guide mentioned that the city used to have lots of those drinking
fountains on the walls. I forgot the exact figure, but it has since been
reduced to a third or fourth of the original number. It happens in most cities
with a long history. Such looting is common for survival. At least they still
managed to preserve some, including the humongous one at the end of the
aqueduct, although that monument is more of a recent addition. Impressive,
nonetheless!
The
tram then took us back to our starting point and since I still had time, I
decided to walk around until sundown. The entrance to the museum was free
because it was a Sunday but I just felt like staying outdoors. The weather was
fine and the lively crowd was fun to watch. That square really comes alive
during the weekend. I then had an Uber bring me back to the aqueduct, found a
Starbucks and chilled. No shortage of buses heading back to Mexico City! I was
exhausted, but it was worth it.
[QUERETARO] UNESCO World Heritage Daytrip
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