No place is perfect, and we had a few issues in Guanajuato. First, the occasional smell of sewage that we walked through. I don’t want to give the impression that it was everywhere or consistent, but it was a common occurrence. I think we’d get used to it over time, but it was unpleasant for two weeks.
Second, the food. I feel like a heretic even typing that. The food we ate was mostly delicious, but we’re spoiled for veggies in the U.S. In Guanajuato, our grocery store (reputedly the largest/best in town) had a limited selection of fresh veggies. Frozen options were more plentiful, but still not what we were used to. The little corner shops were hit or miss for veggies as well. I was elated when we got to Mexico City and the grocery store had broccoli, asparagus, and mixed greens for salads. Also, as a pescatarian, street food was more limited for me than Andrew.
Third, barking dogs. This one is mostly for Andrew, because his work calls were often plagued by barking dogs and traffic noise. I didn’t really mind the barking because that’s the price you pay for being around dogs, but I would have been annoyed if I was trying to lead meetings. The worst offender was our upstairs neighbor. His dogwalkers came by twice a day and the dogs went crazy as soon as they heard them buzz the gate bell on the street. So the 3 dogs would be running around, barking and howling (one was a hound dog) while the walkers climbed up 4 flights of stairs. Twice a day.
Last, the hills and steps! Guanajuato is gorgeous, and a big part of that is thanks to its position in a valley, surrounded by hills and with alleys zigzagging all through the center of town. But that also means it’s a trek to get anywhere. It was worth it to us, but it would be extremely challenging for anyone with mobility issues.
