Day 3 Tour to Taxco
Today we are on our way to Taxco but first we will stopping in Cuernavaca, City of Eternal Springs. It is a city of 800,000, many who have vacation homes here. We are stopping at San Francisco Cathedral built in the 16th century. It was built with volcanic rock. It is still in use and in fact there is a wedding here this day. There are 2 other churches on this property. One is undergoing preservation now. Most all historic buildings in Mexico cannot undergo any reconstruction, only preservation.
Taxco is a very old city founded by Aztecs who found silver here. It has retained its natural charm with its colonial ambiance, red-tiled roofs, cobble-stoned, narrow winding streets and the towering, impressive 240 year old Santa Prisca Catheral. The Spanish conquered the Aztecs in 1521and laid claim to the mines. For 200 years this rich silver was sent all over Europe and this remote little area was made known for its silver. Then more accessible mines were found and mining in Taxco faded out. In Taxco, just get to the downtown area was an experience, a fun experience. The city streets are so narrow and there is very little parking. The city uses VW’s and VW buses as taxis and there must be a kabillion of them. We were squished into a VW bus and very quickly driven up and down and around these mountain streets to the center of downtown. Our stop took us to the upstairs restaurant where we had a delicious authentic Mexican dinner. Most all Mexican meals start with soup. Our main entrée was chicken and not the best we have had but ok with beans, rice and ice cream for dessert. Then we had about an hour to shop. I think about 80%, at least, of the shops were selling silver jewelry. Then of course there were vendors outside trying to take our money.
The church in Taxco is quite unusual. Jose Labortha came to the area when he was 16 in search for his brother. He stayed and by the time he was 36 he owned 7 silver and gold mines. He wanted a church to evangelize, teach and preach to the native Aztecs. He agreed to pay for it if he could design it. It was built in 1748 and took 10 years to complete. It is a Baroque Style. It has 12 alters carved of wood and covered with 24 C. gold. Every carving on these alters tells a story and represents something or someone. All the materials came from the local mountains and all is still original today. A pipe organ, a gift from Germany, with 366 pipes was added.
