Like many of the world’s classic love stories this one is a tale of forbidden love that ends in tragedy. The legend of Alley of the Kiss (Callejon del Beso) in Guanajuato, Mexico begins with the daughter of a wealthy man who fell in love with a suitor her father did not condone. The over protective matriarch made plans to send her to Spain to marry a much older and well to do mate. The young suitor hatched a plan of his own and bought the house directly across from his love in the lane pictured on the right. This way he could be close to her and thought he could convince her father he was worthy.The two star-crossed lovers committed their final act of love in the narrow alley. They leaned out of their windows and reached across to hold hands. Her father caught them, flew into a rage and plunged a dagger into his daughter’s chest. Some versions of the legend maintain her lover kissed her hand as she died, while others paint a picture of the two caught kissing.
Today tourists line up to take photos of the alley. Tour guides encourage couples to kiss on the staircase below the balconies where the ill-fated couple held hands more than 200 years ago.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Here is a previous post on Guanajuato.
8 comments:
Romance, like dodgeball, is a sport of violence and exclusion. I'm always amazed at how few classic love stories end with "and they lived happily ever after."
Happy Valentine's Day indeed.
;0
Roy,
I hope you find a cynic who can match your wit soon. Happy Valentines Day :^)
Hi Wendy, I’m so glad you commented at Blogtrotter and gave me the chance to land on your wonderful blog! Great pictures, interesting text and an amazing number of places covered. I'm so envious... ;))
Have a great weekend!
Gil
Hi Gil,
Thank you and glad you made your way here. Looks like you have done a lot of traveling yourself!
nice to see such a tragic tale for Valentines Day... I was similarly teaching Romeo and Juliet that day...where it all goes wrong of course!! Catherine xx
Catherine,
Too funny. Perhaps my post and your lesson were subconscious acts of defiance against the consumerism of the holiday.
Oops!
I've been to that alley in Guanajuato. It's a great story, and yes I had my picture taken there too lol! The whole city of Guanajuato is just incredible. It's got the look and feel of colonial spain, but the cool chicness of a college town. Its easy to forget you are in Mexico as you walk the streets and plazas.
-Manzanilloblogger
www.manzanilloblog.com
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