Chihuahua

Introduction

Pigeon at square in downtown Chihuahua

© LanaN

Chihuahua is the main city in central northern Mexico. Having said this, it has more of a small country town feel to it. Siestas are common place in the afternoon. As is the customary Mexican tradition of loitering. If you're interested in the local fashions (outrageous cowboy boots and locally made sombreros) then this is the city to get them. In the downtown area, there are streets lined with cowboy boot/hat shops. Shop around and you'll find some really cool items. Chihuahua is definitely worth a night or 2 stopover, especially if your on the way to Copper Canyon.

Sights and Activities

In one of the central plaza's, Plaza de Armas, there is a great big old church. This plaza is also a great place to catch locals loitering and kids playing, as well as local Tarahumaran tribes people selling their handicrafts. Every half hour or so a guy comes to ring the church bells. There is a strict pattern and number to this, but if you ask really nicely, he'll show you the pattern and let you ring the bell. Dont hold back, the bell cannot be rung too loudly, but apparantly it can be rung not loudly enough.

Whilst walking around, check out the Plaza Hidalgo, with its state government building and murals depicting the state's history. There is a rather interesting museum in the area as well, which is actually the old mansion of the boisterous revolutionary, Pancho Villa. His old car is there, bullet holes and all, as are the rooms where he apparantly held wild parties, original furniture still in tact.

Also, at night, there are some really cool proper local style Mexican taverna's to check out. Two of the best of these are downstairs from one of the budget hotels in the city.

Events and Festivals

Day of the Dead

Although the Day of the Dead is also celebrated in many Latin American countries except Mexico (and also in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa), the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is most intensily celebrated in Mexciowhere where it is equal to a National Holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. Although it is about the Dead, it is also a celebration where eating and partying both are common as well.

Other Events and Festivals

Grito de la Independencia - September 15th is Mexican Independence Day! A massive celebration involving plenty of singing, dancing and fireworks takes place in the Zócalo. Everyone here awaits an appearance from Mexico's president who rings a bell from a central balcony of the Palacio Nacional overlooking the Zócalo. The president then shouts out the Grito de Dolores, or the Cry of Dolores which was Father Hidalgo's famous call to arms against Spanish rule in 1810.

• Dia de la Candelaria. Candlemas is held February 2nd and commemorates Jesus being introduced into the temple 40 days after his birth. This nationwide celebration sees many different ways of celebrating and many towns hold processions, bullfights and dances. Of course, plenty of delicious, traditional foods are served during Dia de la Candelaria as well.
• Carnaval is held in late February or early March throughout all of Mexico. This big party is meant to celebrate the 40 day penance of Lent. Carnaval always takes place during the week or so prior to Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Sunday. Mexicans celebrate this holiday with fireworks, food, dancing, parades, dancing and drinking.
• Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a huge celebration which starts on Palm Sunday. This is a very popular time for Mexicans to take a short break; as a result, it seems most of the country is on the move, with buses and hotels often booked out. As for the celebration of Semana Santa, expect colorful processions and many masses at churches everywhere.
• Día de Nuestra Seňora de Guadalupe, or Day of our Lady of Guadalupe, is held December 12th. There is a week-long build up to this religious celebration in honour of the Virgin who appeared to the indigenous Juan Diego in the year 1531. Since then, the Lady of Guadalupe has been Mexico's religious patron and her veneration is very significant. It is traditional for young boys to be dressed as a Juan Diego and for young girls to be dressed in indigenous garb and brought to a special mass, held at many churches throughout the country.
• New Year's Eve. Mexicans celebrate New Year's Eve or locally known as Año Nuevo, by downing a grape with each of the twelve chimes of the bell during the midnight countdown, while making a wish with each one. Mexican families decorate homes and parties, during New Year's, with colors such as red, to encourage an overall improvement of lifestyle and love, yellow to encourage blessings of improved employment conditions, green to improve financial circumstances and white to improved health. Mexican sweet bread is baked with a coin or charm hidden in the dough. When the bread is served, the recipient whose slice contains the coin or charm is believed to be blessed with good luck in the new year. One can expect a lot of firecrackers, fireworks and sparklers being fired. At midnight there is a lot of noise and everyone shouts: "Feliz año nuevo!" People embrace, make noise, set off firecrackers, and sing Auld Lang Syne.

Weather

Chihuahua has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. Average daytime temperatures range from 17 °C in Demceber and January to around 33 °C in June, with nights ranging from 2 °C to 19 °C. Almost all of the annual 350 mm of rain falls during the July to September period, from October to June it is very dry.

Getting There

By Plane

General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport (CUU) has a range of flights, with the main destinations being Mexico City, Houston, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana, Dallas/Fort Worth and Cancun.

By Train

Chihuahua is the starting point for the famous Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico which travels two times daily to the Pacific coastline to the city of Los Mochis, Sinaloa and its port Topolobampo, though the beautiful Copper Canyon. One trip is for tourists only and is much faster, the second daily trip is slower, stopping en route at about 15 places and is a combined trip with cargo.

By Car

Four hours south of Juarez/El Paso by expressway, it is an easy drive. There are no major towns between the two cities but there are roadside diners to break up the journey.

By Bus

Chihuahua's bus terminal is located quite a distance out of town. There are buses to all major cities in Mexico. The Chihuahuense bus line will take you to central Mexico or to Tijuana from the main terminal in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.

For an overview of schedules and connections, check thebusschedule.com. Also check out rome2rio.com.

Getting Around

By Public Transport

For an overview of schedules and connections, check thebusschedule.com. Also check out rome2rio.com.

Eat

Be careful! The best chiles rellenos in the world, served on a flour tortilla. The seeds are not removed, making for a fire in your mouth that is unsurpassed.

Sleep

The cheap sleeps in Chihuahua are all found east of the cathedral, between Calle Libertad and Victoria.

• Casa de Huespedes Flores, Calle 12 No. 218 btwn Victoria and Libertad, rooms from 100 Pesos, including bathroom, TV, probably the best value in town.
• Hotel Plaza, Calle 4 No. 206, not-too-clean place right behind the cathedral. Rooms from M$130 (singles), M$200 (4 people).
• Hotel-ito, Calle 4 Cnr Trias, filthy rooms without windows, (cold) water usually out of order, M$100 (singles).
• Hotel Trias, Calle Trias cnr Independencia, as filthy as the others, singles from M$120.
• Casa de Chihuahua, Calle Mendez 2203, a brand new hostel conveniently located across the train station. Dorms from 150 Pesos per night. Advance booking essential.
• Hotel San Juan, Calle Victoria cnr Decima, central location rooms from about M$145 single, M$155 double, M$165 triple per night. This is the old backpacker favorite, though some say there are better choices these days.
• Hotel Roma, Calle Libertad cnr Calle 12, singles from M$125.
• Posada Aida, near the downtown honk tonk district rooms from about US$9 per night. Friendly staff.
• Microtel Inn & Suites, Periférico de la Juventud 3304, ☎ +52 614 432 2525. Enjoy consistency, quality, reasonable prices and great service.
• Hampton Inn, Periférico de la Juventud 6100, ☎ +52 614 439 8000. Very nice business class hotel.
• Best Western Mirador, Ave Universidad 1309 (Close to downtown Chihuahua), ☎ +52 614 432 2200. Very nice business class hotel.

Learn

• Autonomous University of Chihuahua

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafe's are widely available and you generally can find one in the direct vicinity. Sometimes photocopy stores or photo processing stores will double as an internet cafe with a couple of computers. Look for signs reading "Acceso a Internet" or "Cibernautica" or "Cibercafe". Charges range from approx. US$1 an hour to US$3 an hour, depending on the location.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Phone cards can be purchased anywhere and are needed for the majority of public phones. To call any number outside your region you have to dial 01 then followed by the area code. If calling a cellphone from a normal phone start with with 044. If calling cellphone to cellphone just dial the 10-digit number. To make an international call dial 00 followed by the country code then the local number. To call to Mexico, also dial 00 (most of the times) followed by the national code 52.

Post

The Mexican postal service is operated by Correos de México. The post service in Mexico is pretty good although not very cheap. It is reliable regarding the sending of postcards, but it takes at least a week to send it to other countries (US/Canada), more so if you send it to Europe or Australia. For packages it is better to use international services like FedEx or UPS. If you are sending a package internationally with the Mexican postal service, take the package OPEN to the post office, they may want to inspect it. Seal it up at the post office. Post offices typically open from 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am to 1:00pm Saturday. You will find post offices (Oficina de Correos) is almost any town or city in Mexico. To buy stamps it is best to go to the post office, although you can also get them at stamp machines, located outside the post offices, at bus stations, airports and some commercial establishments.

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