Tulancingo is a quaint city in the Hidalgo Province of Mexico, 119 km from Mexico City. Founded by the Toltecs in 645 AD and after several cultures such as the Chichimecas, the Aztecs, the Spanish conquistadors, and the French controlled it, Mexico finally took control in 1821, when Nicolas Bravo and Guadalupe Victoria won the Mexican War of Independence.
Once a bustling Mesoamerican trade route center for commerce and agriculture, the cobblestone streets from the colonial era echo its history. The colonial architecture is evident in historical buildings like the Tulancingo Cathedral and Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles.
When you’ve had enough of the incredible architecture, Tulancingo has another surprise for you – the El Santo Museum. It is fantastic. Who was El Santo? Born in Tulancingo on September 23, 1917, Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, or El Santo, became a professional wrestler from 1942 to 1982. He died on February 5, 1984, as a Mexican cultural Icon – el luchador enmascarado de plata (the silver masked wrestler). The museum showcases his silver mask and a great collection of memorabilia of masks, photographs, and other collectibles. He acted in 52 films, so there is much to see. But the best part is that it’s a fun experience. The wonderful staff will walk you through the displays, explaining their meanings and relevance. The entrance is free but please give a donation for this extraordinary experience.
After a highly entertaining visit to the museum, you might feel a bit peckish. The El Vagon (The Wagon) Café is a few meters away and will satisfy your appetite for a while. The restaurant is a refurbished train car with photos and fittings of the original train. Alongside the Café is a railway museum, once the Tulancingo railway station. The menu at the café includes tacos, mole, corn on the cob, and chilaquiles. My advice is to have a cappuccino.
Never turn your nose down on a local eatery. We stumbled upon a corner restaurant, Barbacoa “El Carnerito,” and I have yet to eat barbacoa, which is its equivalent. Barbacoa is slow-cooked meat in a pit in the ground. And the blue tortillas? They are simply yummy. While devouring this delicious food, a young lad stands and, out of nowhere, starts singing incredibly well. My goodness, what a talent.
Tulancingo is full of pleasant surprises. If you have a day with nothing to do while in Mexico City, hop on a bus to Tulancingo and be mesmerized and entertained.