Job Discussion Forums

e.alice · Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Montana

I am looking at a job now in Celaya, Guanajuato but I have never been that far north in Mexico. Has anyone lived/visted the state of Guanajuato?

scott wilhelm · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 63 Location: st louis, mo

Alice,
I have been to the city of Guanajuato, but haven't seen much of the rest of the state. The city is perhaps the most beautiful I have seen anywhere in Latin America. It is situated in a basin encircled by mountains. The colonial center of the town is preserved as a national monument by federal law. The architecture is spectacular.
It is a college town with a pretty decent cultural scene. Lots of good (and reasonable) restaurants too. It is also an excellent walking city, as the city center is closed to vehicles, and there are dozens upon dozens of narrow little lanes that go up into the hilly residential neighborhoods that spread out from the town center. This is the romantic Mexico you've read about.
The weather in Guanajuato is superb. Fairly low humidity and not often hot or cold. The southern lattitude is offset by the 6,700 ft altitude. Nice , nice weather.
I can't say anything bad about Guanajuato city. The rest of the state is mountainous semi-desert country from what I could tell.
I'm not sure that San Miguel de Allende is in Guanajuato state or a neighboring one. In any event, it is only about a 45 minute bus ride from Guanajuato city. It isn't as pretty as Guanajuato, but is is beautiful too. I think it may be a designated national monument as well.
Good luck.

Gringo Greg · Posted: Sat May 29, 2004 6:53 am Post subject:

Celaya is a nice city, been there a few times. It has good services and it is in a nice location. What more really can I say? Easy accessible to Guanajauto, Leon and Queretaro. It may not have a lot of wonderful architetcure and the like, but it is a nice city. Not much else I can think to say about it.......except to say it is not like Guanajuato City. No mountains, it sits in a valley. It is more a commercial city rather than an artistic city.

chula · Posted: Sat May 29, 2004 12:42 pm Post subject:

Hi. I live in the city of Guanajuato and teach at "a univeristy" there (can�t put the name or I�ll get into trouble). I agree that the city is pretty, but it�s really only pretty for a few days, then you start to realize that the narrow, cobblestone sidewalks are deathtraps and that the cultural scene is pretty limited. These are just my opinions, but I�ve been here for a year and a half and am leaving in two weeks because there isn�t anything to do here and there are only 2 or 3 restaurants that are worth going to, so we end up going to them everyday. If you like a slow, plodding lifestyle, then Guanajuato is a good place, but if you like to have places to go and things to do and see after 6 o�clock at night that don�t include drinking until you puke, you might want to go somewhere else.

schely10 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 38 Location: Guadalajara, Mx

Chula,

Where are you going in 2 weeks? Do you already have a job lined up?

chula · Posted: Sat May 29, 2004 2:28 pm Post subject:

I�m going to work at the Tec in Culiac�n. First I�m going home for a few weeks and then I start the 19th of July.

inmexico · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 110 Location: The twilight zone

My first year in Mexico was spent in Guanajuato State. There are some very touristic places such as Guanajuato City and San Miguel Allende, but for the most part, it is a very industrialized area. There is a lot of money in the state overall (close to the level of Queretaro) and a low unemployment rate. The city of Celaya is a nice city. There is not much else to say about it. It isn't exactly a cultural center but it is relatively clean considering the industry that is there. I would draw a close comparison between Celaya and San Juan del Rio. Both places have the same kind of "feel".
I think the best part of Celaya is the geographic location - good for weather, and for traveling to other cities in the region. A lot of people that live in Celaya frequent Queretaro for clubs etc. It is about an hour bus ride from station to station.

The Menace · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 54 Location: Shanghai

Scott,
Every time you describe a city you make me want to go there.
Do you work Tourism Mexico??

scott wilhelm · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 63 Location: st louis, mo

I only wish I worked for Mexican Tourism. Sure would be a great job. I haven't travelled to that many foreign countries-actually only 5. But I can honestly say that Mexico is my favorite.