If you are confused and lose your way in the streets of Guanajuato, look up for the monument of El Pipila standing high above the city to set your course. Even if you are not lost, look up at night.  The monument  will be lit up, bright and beautiful. Pipila is the nickname for the miner and local hero who during the Mexican War for Independence gained fame by facilitating the burning of the doors to the grain warehouse that stored not only the grain but the silver and the Spanish soldiers.  This building, actually called  Alhondiga de Granaditas,  is at the edge of the Historic Center and is a museum today.  It is made of high stone walls, but unfortunately for the Spanish, the doors were made of wood.

I thought that visiting El Pipila and looking out from high over the city would be a great way to start our first full day in Guanajuato.  Directly behind the Teatro Juarez you can catch the funicular to the top of the hill and at the foot of the monument, you can look out over the city.  A fantastic panoramic view.

 Coming down to the center of the city again was the most fun.  We were in no hurry and figured if we just followed any path down we would eventually find our way back to “La Jardin”.  So we chose a stairway to the left of El Pipila, lined on each side by homes.

 We then found other stairways branching out to the left and then right and continued exploring and descending.  Only when we were almost to the bottom did I notice that to some of these arteries cars now had access.  We were in no hurry and after a long morning  found our way back to our hotel.