El Zorro - Miguel Hidalgo Museum

Hidalgo was a rascal. He was known by his peers as el zorro or the Fox. It turned out that he was not only the father of Mexican independence, the father (priest) of the local Parroquia church, but was the father of two daughters in an illegitimate tryst. Rejecting a number of foundational doctrines and morality of the church, he evidently regarded his priesthood as a necessary evil to have to tolerate to receive the financial support he garnered from the church which was to the tune of about nine thousand pesos a year.

Two things to say in Hidalgo's defense: One, is that he apparently took the responsibility for the two daughters he sired seriously and when transferred to the Dolores Parish it is said that he had his two daughters in tow. He wasn't a dead-beat Dad (to which I say, ¡Bien hecho, amigo!). And, secondly he was a humanitarian to the indigenous people of his parish.

He did what so few did then and what so few do now for the poor and downtrodden: Hidalgo taught those with nothing how to earn a living making and selling pottery. And, there you have in a nutshell why the city of Dolores Hidalgo is so famous for its pottery to this day. That is this town's pottery's historical basis.

The man really was a genius of sorts. He was not only highly educated in theology but was an all round academic strongly influenced by the literature from the Enlightenment period. I cannot help but think that the literary circles in which Hidalgo and his fellow insurgents fellowshipped, it was from there the ideas for independence were born.

This museum is a chilling reminder from history of what freedom from oppression is all about. Miguel Hidalgo, though a central figure in the rebellion, and it was a fight to destroy oppression, was not the only player in its drama. There were others, many others. And yet, it is Miguel Hidalgo who is not only revered but at times depicted here in a messianic type-Mexico's savior. One depiction is a lifelike figure in a kneeling position with blood-stained palms. The impression was messianic if anything.

The last exhibit in sala #8 is something so typical Mexican that I cannot forget to mention it. It is a tribute to someone who was a modern day recording star that happened to be born in Dolores Hidalgo. Why this man is mentioned in a museum dedicated to the father and cuna (cradle) of Mexican civilization when he lived from 1926-1973, I cannot say other than, that's Mexico for you![1]

The next thing on my list was to find and view the Mercado Artesanal located at San Luis Potosi, #3-B. This is the only street that looks a little funky on the map. But, even if you don't speak Spanish, just show someone on the map, like a policeman, what street you want and they will point it out for you. While facing the gigantic Parroquia Church from the plaza, it will be to your left.

This place is a larger collection of many little artsy-fartsy kiosks that will have some quality pieces of ceramics produced by the larger shops on "Pottery Lane". It also had a number of tacky "I was in Dolores Hidalgo" cigarette lighters, cups, t-shirts, glasses, tequila shot glasses, ball-point pins, and a large selection of all manner of religious icons and things that I was not sure what they were or was suppose to do. There were Jesus and Virgin clocks that I would be totally terrified to hang anywhere in my house, but hey, that's just me. The best thing about this place is there are free bathrooms upstairs.

It was getting very warm outside. The months of March through the end of May is very hot in Mexico's heartland. So, we headed back to the hotel for Mexico's absolutely brilliantly conceived custom: La Siesta. We engaged heartily this practice for almost three hours. I just love this country!

[1] José Alfredo Jiménez (born January 9, 1926 in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, died November 23, 1973 in Mexico City, Mexico) was a Mexican singer-songwriter in the ranchera style.