Mexico/Chihuahua: Chihuahua City
Chihuahua, the capital of the vast northern state with the same name. The city and the state get a bad rep for crime but that’s mostly either not true or more typical for the US border areas. The name comes from the local Tarahumara Indian language and not from the famous dog’s name. The city is beautiful in a backward sort of way – think Nebraska or South Dakota vs New York (although when it comes to literacy rates and social competitiveness Chihuahua is the number one city in Mexico). Everybody wear covid boots and cowboy hats here. There is an absolutely spectacular and massive Cathedral of Chihuahua, built between 1725-1792 and justly considered the finest example of colonial architecture and Spanish baroque in northern Mexico – an absolute masterpiece. There is also an impressive 18th century Palacio de Gobierno, Angel of Liberty Monument, nice open pedestrian avenues, and an absolutely surreal decorated mansion of Quinta Gameros University. And speaking of chihuahua dogs – they do originate from here (although the genetic lining takes them to Siberia), and were brought as pet dogs over the border to the US in the early 20th century (then known as Arizona or Texas or Chihuahua dogs).
