Ill be posting a more detailed trip report at a later date, but Ill pass along some thoughts about a short stay in Queretaro and for Leon, where I arrived today and will remain until La Candelaria.
I hadn´t been to Queretaro in years, and how nicely the city has matured. I´m speaking of the Centro Historico neighborhood - because I didn´t get away from there during the visit.
Though there´s a 136% surcharge for bus departures from the Mexico City airport, the airport and bus company have you by the balls if you want to use the bus services there. Most of the surcharge is airport-imposed. Primera Plus is offering a one-way fare of MX$100 from Terminal Norte, but from the airport the ticket will cost MX$236. With a luggage at the time of day I arrived - 1 p.m. - a taxi would have been necessary, so, overall, the airport bus to QRO was the better choice all around.
The center of QRO was lively, with entertainment in front of the kiosco, a parade by members of the expat community - or representing the various foreign countries who have citizens working in QRO (and some Mexicans who work for those foreign countries), some live music at restaurants at several of the public squares, etc. The zone was full of people - such a more positive situation than one finds in Mexico City`s Centro Historico.
I left QRO for Leon, Guanajuato today. Though I know better, I forgot to advance purchase my ticket on Primera Plus and because of the holiday weekend I had to wait 2 hours for a bus with an available seat. The bus arrived-left late and then we arrived in Leon an hour late, because of heavy traffic on the way there and to points north. We also were slowed by a procession of bicyclists, hundreds of them, on their way to a shrine in Jalisco.
Its been a long time since I was taken by surprise when traveling in Mexico, when I´ve arrived in a destination and said, WOW!. Well, I´ll shout WOW! for a first impression of the center of Leon. This is my first visit here and I wonder why its taken me so long. Attending the state fair was primary motivation, and thatll come tomorrow. However, after I toured the spectacular religious art museum in one of the finest Catedrals I´ve visited anywhere in the country . . . I cant wait for the other cultural attractions. Leon, too, is packed for the three-day weekend - and for the fair. The plaza principal and a couple of other restaurant-bordered plazas with live entertainment, lots of street performers, an exhibition of Hawiian dance, etc., tonight - the joint is jumpin.
I`m headed for San Miguel de Allende after Leon, and then on to the D.F.

