Queretaro is a gorgeous colonial specimen, splashed with the vibrant colors of burnt-oranges, subdued yellows, and tiled domes. Fountains pepper the city, and flowering plazas are often kiddy-corner each other, or just a block apart. Music is an inherent part of the city, and the sweetness of live musicians leeks out of their performance venue and floods the evening streets along with the warm summer air.

For all of it's valor, Queretaro is unique in the respect that, while it does not revolve around tourists, it is immensly welcoming to them. Just open up their monthly cultural calendar, which is a city publication directed toward residents. There are foreign film houses, two dozen art gallery openings, more music venues than they can publish, artisian workships, dance and martial art classes, and more. Queretaro buzzes with it's own activity and allows visitors to hum in harmony.

Queretaro specializes in recounting its numerous legends, and several guides, fit in the drab of their inheritor, lead groups around the evening streets telling their stories, which of course are full of mystery, ghosts, and inevitably death. Evening strollers mill and college students from one of the city's four colleges/universities prepare to go out. There is also ample opportunity for adults to enjoy the city at night; Queretaro even has it's very old "viejotec," or "discotec for the old." Like most of the city's venues, you'll find it saturated with Mexican culture and ambiance, packed with people, and probably graced by a relentless stand-up comedian.

This evening culture is only possible because Queretaro is one of the safest cities in Mexico. The municipality has also prioritized cleanliness, the cobblestone streets are practically spotless.

Wynne Auld