Uber is becoming very popular here in Mexico, and it's easy to see why. In a country where taxis are typically very inexpensive, Uber makes it even more so. Add in newer vehicles and friendlier drivers, and it's a recipe for success.
So we stood in the parking area, and ordered Uber on our phones. What a fantastic system!
It was an 8 km (5 mile) ride from our hotel to the Cathedral in the city center. I ordered two Uber taxis, one about five minutes ahead of the other. The bill for the first one was 66 pesos ($4.50 CAD, $3.60 USD), and the bill for the second one was 60 pesos ($4.00 CAD, $3.25 USD).
Split that between the four people in the taxi, and it's pretty darn cheap! Plus, it gets billed directly to my credit card and no money directly changes hands between the driver and the rider.
The difference in price was in part due to the route, and in part due to the traffic and the time it took to reach the destination.
We spent the day with Mike and Linda from Auburn, California. Nice to get to know the group members a little better, and I'm sure that will continue with the other couples as time goes on.
The Cathedral has an interesting exterior, but the interior is nothing special.
We wandered next door to the Municipal Offices Building.
They still had their Christmas tree up!
Linda, Ruth, and Mike.
The mural in the municipal building.
This fountain is still working. Not very common in Mexico!
This is the fourth time we have been to Zacatecas. Each time, we have wanted to visit the Museo Rafael Coronel (Rafael Coronelo Mask Museum).
Each time, it has been closed!
Today was no different. We first stopped by the tourist office and asked. "oh, that museum is closed on Wednesdays"!
The Rafael Coronal Mask Museum.
Oh well. Another thing we'll need to see on our next visit to Zacatecas!
The Parroquia de Santo Domingo.
Neat looking organ!
Mike and Linda went into an art museum of some kind, so Ruth and I just relaxed in the lobby and enjoyed the blue sky. I was sitting there, and looking at the big old wooden door of the museum...
View from where we sat and relaxed for a half an hour.
Wonder how old that big wooden door is!
Lots to see just wandering around.
Time for lunch!
We had seen a little hole in the wall place selling birria. Birria is a type of meat stew, usually made with either goat or lamb. This particular one was made with lamb.
Each of us had a bowl of birria.
You put on your choice of cilantro, lime, onions, and salsa, and eat it with tortillas. Include a soft drink or agua de jamaica, and the cost is 70 pesos ($4.75 CAD, $3.75 USD) per person for a filling lunch!
In the sweets store.
Ruth and I actually bought ourselves a couple of treats! Some Zacatecas chocolate, and some Cactus Pear marmalade.
"Tuna" is actually the fruit of the prickly pear cactus.
We then walked down to the aqueduct and the Quinta Real Hotel.
The aqueduct.
Look at that beautiful blue sky!
The aqueduct was operational from the late 1700's until 1910.
A famous landmark in Zacatecas is the old bull ring. In the 1980's it was bought by the Quinta Real Hotel chain, and turned into a five star luxury property.
Beside the aqueduct is the Quinta Real Hotel.
The restaurant in the Quinta Real Hotel, Zacatecas.
The hotel rooms are above one section of the old bull ring.
It's really well done!
The lobby.
Off to the market.
The Templo de Nuestra Senora de Fatima.
Called a couple more Uber taxis when we all met up back at the Cathedral at 3:00pm. A little bit of confusion this time around, I think because it was approaching rush hour and they were busy. But we got it all sorted out and arrived back at the RV park well before our scheduled afternoon driving meeting.
Today, we do the drive through the busy city of Aguascalientes and on to amazing Guanajuato!
We'll see you there!
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Haha, the sign says "bienveni2" :) Can one walk (or bike!) across that aqueduct? Do people generally tip the Uber drivers?
ReplyDeleteWe hadn't really noticed that on the sign, good eye and too funny!
DeleteNo, you can't walk or bike on it.
In Mexico not generally because you don't normally tip taxi drivers here either unless they really go above and beyond. Back home in either Canada or the US, Kevin was told that it was entirely up to you but it was not expected at least that is want a driver told him in Ottawa, I believe many people do though.
A beautiful city. Excellent pictures and gorgeous architecture.
ReplyDeleteKevin must have a great SLR camera as the photos are excellent esp. the zoomed in ones! Btw, is the blog and pics done on a laptop or desk top? How are you paying for internet?
DeleteNo Lynnette, Kevin does not have an SLR camera, it is just a normal digital camera but not a point and shot one. It is also 4 years old and is getting old. We need to look for a new one once we are back up in the States. He also does not use photoshop on his pictures, he will crop them and straighten them and sometimes adjust the lighting but never the colour, that is it though!
DeleteHe does the blog and pictures on a laptop. We bought a Mexico SIM card and pay cash for a pay as you go internet package and use the smart phone for a hotspot when we can't get free wifi.
Just know that we are reading your posts everyday and taking notes even if we don't comment. Appreciate you taking the time to do this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for following along on the journey with us and for taking the time to comment and let us know you are out there. We appreciate it. :-)
DeleteGreat weather now that you are in Mexico. Really neat that they turned that old bull ring into a hotel. At least it gets preserved that way.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely beautiful weather! This is one of many reasons why we love coming down to Mexico. You are almost guaranteed perfect weather at this time of year.
DeleteThe hotel did a fantastic job with building the hotel and preserving the bull ring. We remember seeing it back in 2009 and we were impressed with it then and we were still in awe of it again this time.
I'm so jealous. It all looks so FUN. Are you going to run this next year as well? Sign us up!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of fun! Yes, we will most likely lead a trip again next year but even if we don't someone else will. The company that organizes this trip already as a full group and now has a waiting list and if they have enough people on the waiting list then they may add in another caravan a week after the first one departs.
DeleteSounds like an interesting city. Must visit one day! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many fantastic and interesting cities in Mexico, so you are going to need to visit lots of them! :-)
DeleteSuch a beautiful city. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt is a gorgeous city! Glad you enjoyed the post.
DeleteBirria is one of my favorites. I don’t think I’ve had the lamb version as I believe it’s usually goat. What a treat.
ReplyDeleteIt is one our favourites as well, along with pozole, carnitas, tacos and enchiladas! :-) We love Mexican food!!! We have had it with goat as well and really we don't notice too much of a difference with the taste but yes, normally it is made with goat.
DeleteLook at that gorgeous blue sky! You guys are making the most of your day!
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to see the blue sky after all the miserable weather that we had in Texas. We are loving it!
DeleteWe always like to make the most of our days. :-)
I couldn't imagine my work travel without Uber. They send me a receipt and an invoice for taxes in less than 5 minutes of getting out of the car.
ReplyDeleteKevin loves it too, he thinks it is so neat that the bill is there on your phone within minutes of exiting the taxi.
DeleteGood to know that UBER is working well in Mexico....is it safe to assume it will be in all the cities you will be visiting?
DeleteIt is probably in most of the cities but we are not sure that it is in all of them.
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