JDiver

Cuernavaca is interesting, and beyond, Taxco is even moreso, IMO.

This was a small colonial town in the cool, forested mountains south of Cuernavaca that was a played out silver mining town. An American on horseback, an artist and architecture professor at Tulane University, fell in love with the town. He settled and began producing furniture and various arts and crafts pieces that became quite popular and hired four goldsmiths fron nearby lowland Iguala to e e Ute his jewelry designs.

His shop burgeoned into a village of smiths and designers, a number like him becoming recognized as world class artisans. His influence on Mexican jewelry continues today. (I learned silver design, manufacturing and repair in Taxco, learning from some who had worked for Don Guillermo (like the Castillo brothers), as he was known.)

Today, Taxco has retained its colonial appearance down to the buildings, required to meet certain specifications to maintain the colonial appearance, and cobbled streets. Though Taxco can be done as a long day trip, it’s a lovely place to spend a couple of days, with some delightful places to stay and eat.