Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with mexico

Mexico city trip report.

vacapinta — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:49:45 -0800

Four days in Mexico City. We chose to stay in the Hotel Condesa DF. It's a new design hotel packed into a colonial building. The surrounding area, Colonia Condesa, is an upscale walkable neighborhood. The hotel itself is gorgeous but may not be for everybody. For one, the rooftop bar is a nightlife destination and it can get very very loud, despite the anti-loudness screens and the supplied earplugs.

We arrived on a Thursday night and went out walking in the neighborhood. Condesa is a mix of residential with spots of bars and cafes and bookstores. We were heading for an art opening at kurimanzutto gallery but ended up happily lost instead. Tired, we headed back to the hotel.

FRIDAY
On Friday we took the metro to the Historic Center. We took the subway to Pino Suarez and walked up the street to the Zocalo. There was lots of construction going on. Later, we discovered that it was a skating rink being built. We didn't go into the Cathedral. It was closed because of a recent protest. Later, we would run across other protests or marches, each like a small parade. Police are everywhere in Mexico City, one on every corner it seemed. The sidewalks around the Center at times becoming so crowded that people spill into the streets. Illegal vendors showing their wares. Shoppers with stuffed bags. University students and professors waving their arms in exclamation. At times Mexico city felt as if it was several cities dropped on top of each other, like double-exposed film.

We entered the Palacio Nacional with its walls of Diego Rivera murals. You enter the Palace through a metal detector since it is also a working government building. The tourists snapping pics alongside the sober government workers alongside the soldiers with rifles is the perfect foreground for Rivera's murals. The Templo Mayor, the Aztec ruins next to the Palacio, were closed off but you can still see them from the street.

In this area, do not miss the Colegio de San Ildefonso. I think its where Frida met Diego. But, more than that, it's an impressive art gallery and a beautiful sanctuary from the chaos of the streets. We were awed by the Rene Burri exhibition there. He is most famous for his photographs of Che.

We spent much of the afternoon just strolling in the Historic center. The stone buildings are from the Colonial era, well preserved and colorful. We walked down Calle Donceles with is a street renowned for its booksellers. Blocks of modern and antique book dealers, vendors selling paperbacks on the streets. Donceles is like an enormous open library. I picked up an early edition of a book of Alfonso Reyes poems. C. picked up an old Mexican movie poster. There are other streets with other specialties. A street of pharmacies. A street of hardware vendors. We stopped for beers and snacks at Cafe Tacuba. A bit touristy but also worth it. We also happened to walk by the Post Office, which just might be the most beautiful post office in the world.

We returned home by taking the Metro to Cauhtemoc and then walking through Colonia Roma and then through Colonia Condesa. The metro is highly efficient. We stopped worrying about running to catch a train when we realized that they seemed to arrive every 2 minutes. And each one is packed! Roma is a fantastic walking neighborhood. We stopped at a cafe, wandered by some student parties, went into funky stores until we arrived back at our hotel.

We had dinner at Cafe El Greco, a great hole-in-the-wall where one man made juicy carne asada delivered in pita wrappers with cheese. Likely the tastiest meal we had all week.

SATURDAY
Saturday was for Coyoacan which used to be a small town outside of Mexico city but was consumed. Now, you take the subway there.

We went first to the Trotsky museum. It is the house where Trotsky lived, the house where he was assassinated and the place where he is buried. His house has been kept in a preserved state. It is as if Trotsky might return at any moment. His clothes are hanging in his closet. All of his books are in the bookshelf. You can walk into the study where he worked, with its Edison recorder and map of Mexico. Trotsky's house was one of the highlights of the Mexico city trip. I was disoriented from the sense of having traveled back half a century.

Trotsky's house is only a few blocks, down some quiet residential streets, from the house of Frida and Diego. The blue house. Unlike the Trotsky house, the blue house was more of a museum, displaying Frida's letters and drawings, books from their collections. Also the house where they lived - but with a newly restored, repainted smell. Given the proliferation of Frida objects in the world, the cult-like fascination, we both thought that the gift shop could have done a better job. Still, the garden is a pleasant place to stop and have an espresso.

After the blue house, we strolled down Calle Allende. This will lead you (at least on a Saturday) to the deceptively enormous Coyoacan indoor market. An explosion of vendors in a maze-like space, selling fruits and flowers and candy and chiles and nuts and meats and books and toys and caged birds. Also small counters where you pick your food off of plates piled with seafood. Do not miss this. We weren't hungry yet although just outside the market, C. bought a delicious tortilla/cheese creation from a woman street vendor which we shared. Continuing the walk leads you towards Plaza Hidalgo, a weekend park festival out of a children's book. A wedding was spilling out of the nearby cathedral. Men selling colorful balloons. Ice cream vendors. Nuns selling eggnog. Jewelry and food vendors.

We walked down to Calle Venustiano Carranza and walked to Plaza Santa Catarina Coyoacan is full of bright and colorful old houses. Yellows and Blues seemed to dominate. Walking among those houses, down windy stone streets we arrived at Plaza Santa Catarina and sat down to eat huitlacoche[link?] tacos and margaritas in the small leafy plaza.

We made it back to the subway station. Back to the hotel Condesa where we spent the evening on the rooftop, watching the sunset in the hazy DF sky and drinking and chatting away. And resting our feet. For dinner, we made a trip to Pujol, an acclaimed restaurant. I at least was not highly impressed. It takes a lot to rival even the street food in a place like Mexico city.

SUNDAY
This is the day we went to Chapultepec Park. Go just to see all the Mexican families.

We were heading to the Museo Antropologico but C. noticed all these signs advertising the Mariposario (Butterfly Garden) at the Zoo. We weren't planning to go to the zoo but made a detour anyways. The zoo is free. And it is a great zoo! When I say this, I am comparing it to the San Diego Zoo which I grew up with. The Mariposario was not free but not expensive either. It was a large, humid room full of tropical butterflies. We were told not to touch the butterflies but this becomes difficult when they are landing on your shirt. Afterwards we lost a lot of time wandering through the zoo. I advise getting there early, as we did. We had just walked into the zoo. When we left, lines had formed.

The Museo Antropolgico is an architectural wonder. It is also a great museum. Artifacts found at pyramid sites are brought here where they are displayed theatrically. Aztecs are fine (and they have the Calendar stone here) but equally fascinating are the Oaxacan and Veracruz cultures as well as the Mayan and earlier cultures. From figurines to stone heads and walls of intricate writing, it is easy to spend the entire day here.

Afterwards, we walked through the park to the nearby Rufino Tamayo museum. Tamayo is one of my favorite painters. He was a modernist - his work reminiscent of Miro or Picasso - not a muralist like Orozco or Rivera.

We had planned to go to Chapultepec Castle on the top of the hill, the old castle where the French emperor Maximilian had resided, but we were out of steam. We ate at Casa Merlos, which you should take a cab to because it is a bit out of the way. We had fried crickets as a starter then a Mole tasting. After choosing your favorite Mole, it is served to you with chicken smothered underneath. Delicious.

MONDAY
Besides taking long baths and reading in the tub. We spent the early afternoon at the nearby Libreria Conejo Blanco - a tiny bookstore which is nevertheless probably one of the best bookstores in the city. I bought a few art magazines as well as books by Augusto Monterroso and Goncalo Tavares. Earlier in the week, I was also introduced to Fernando del Paso - now one of my favorite authors.

We had lunch at La Rauxa, a quiet sidewalk cafe which served a 3-course prix-fix meal for 70 pesos (about $7). We caught a taxi to the airport and left. We didnt go to Teotihuacan or Xochimilco or the Basilica or a Lucha Libre match or...a hundred other things. I could have stayed for months.

Any other questions? Feel free to ask.

Ideas for Cancun activities?

mullacc — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:21:21 -0800

Anything unique/fun to do in Cancun outside the normal stuff? My family and I are spending Christmas in Cancun (Friday-Tuesday). My mom has been planning all the activities and I'm inclined to just tag along, enjoy the weather, the food and an excuse to read on the beach. But it looks like my brother is going to refuse to go snorkeling, so I'd like to have a backup idea if we end up canning the snorkeling plans.

We're already planning to spend one of the days on a chartered fishing boat. We're staying at this Iberostar resort. It's the four of us: mom, dad, my adult younger brother and me. We're physically able (my parents probably more so than my bro and me, embarrassingly). Basically, I'm just hoping for an interesting idea that the resort concierge wouldn't come up with. We're not very imaginative, but we're unafraid. The one caveat is that none of us speak more than a few words of Spanish.

Driving Barra to Patzcuaro

timeistight — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 07:36:40 -0800

What's the best route to drive from Barra de Navidad or Melaque in Jalisco to Patzcuaro, Michoacan this December? How long will your recommended route take? One possibility is Highway 80 to Guadalahara and then south via the newish toll road. Another is down the coast on Highway 200 to 37D (the toll road). I've also heard of a route through Colima and Guzman.

And, please, spare me the Mexican highway horror stories. We've driven lots in Mexico and are very comfortable with the risks and rewards.

Traveling to Mexico City: what to do, and how to stay safe?

jbb7 — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:34:49 -0800

I am about to go to Mexico City for 3 days. I am a white American 19-year-old and will be staying at Hostel Catedral. I haven't taken Spanish since 6th grade, so my language skills are at phrasebook level. What should I do? And how worried should I be about safety? I would love to go see the pyramids. Can a person traveling alone safely make that trip? (Assuming I don't meet other people at the hostel to go with.)

What other places in Mexico City would you recommend? I've got no plans other than exploring the city for the next 3 days.

Also, I understand Mexico City does not have the best reputation for safety. I will keep my wits about me, but how worried should I be about traveling around? Should I only visit places that I know to be safe? In Asia, I enjoy riding public transportation to the end of the line and exploring the outer suburbs of cities. I assume I shouldn't do that in Mexico City, right?

(Found this post about moving to Mexico City, but nothing about traveling there.)

Can I drink it without dying?

kingjoeshmoe — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 10:28:36 -0800

Will the super-potent alcohol I bought in Mexico for $15 kill me if I try to drink it? More info and transcription of the entire label inside. It's 96% alcohol by volume (that's one of the parts of the label I can understand). It was being sold at numerous liquor stores and even pharmacies. What I don't understand is, how can such potent alcohol be so cheap? Is it safe to drink? Or am I gambling with my life here?

Note: I am *not* looking for people to tell me that alcohol that cheap can't be safe. I'm looking for actual information from people that know what it is, why it's so cheap, and who have drunk it and lived to tell about it (or knew those who didn't). Thanks!

Transcription:

96% Alc. Vol. G.L. a 15º C
Cont. Neto al envasar 1 L.

Alcohol Puro de Caña Etilico
***** "A G"

ALCOHOL ETILICO SIN DESNATURALIZAR PURO DE CAÑA

ENVASADO Y DISTRIBUIDO POR ALCOHOLES DE GUADALAJARA S.A. DE C.V.

PLANTA DE ENVASADO
AV. ARTESANOS No. 4618 TLAQUEPAQUE, JALISCO.
TELS. 3606-0952 3606-1002 3606-0950
R.F.C. AGU-960531 E10
REG No. 01509C3000 S.S.A.

PRODUCTO INFLAMABLE. EVITE EL CONTACTO CON LOS OJOS NO SO DEJE AL ALCANCE DE LOS NIÑOS. NO SE DEJE DESTAPADO

NO DEBE BEBERSE
PROHIBIDA SU VENTA A MENORES DE 18 AÑOS HECHO EN MEXICO.

Vacation Ideas for August

Inkoate — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:38:15 -0800

My girlfriend and I are taking a week vacation in early August, somewhere in North or Central America, where should we go and what should we do? We are taking around a week of freedom before I start law school in the fall, and we'd like to hit up somewhere neither of us have been before.

Ideas we've tossed around so far:
Belize, Tulum & Playa del Carmen or Pacific Coast Mexico, Prince Edward Island, Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, US Rockies

We're looking for:
Relaxing, beach/water, sailing (possibly), scuba diving (possibly), hiking, camping, good food (but no seafood), local flavor (think ruins or history more than museums), nicer than a hostel but not an all inclusive resort style, either North or Central America.

Obviously, there's a wide variety of things we're looking at, but we're sure we haven't thought of all the possible cool ideas yet. What can AskMe come up with?

Where is the palapa that has my name on it?

lilithim — Sat, 12 May 2007 12:01:23 -0800

A friend and I booked a ten day trip to Cancun at the end of this month last night. We'd like to make our trip as cheap as possible, as we just graduated from college and are currently without paycheck. We're planning on backpacking and only staying in hotels when we have to, but we're into the fishwatching scene. He's fluent in Spanish, I speak enough to keep my head about me, and we've got some time. We're not much into the drunken scene, so we're looking for some nice palapas to go hang out on. What's the favorite MeFi off-the-beaten track?

Hasta Los Huesos?

horseblind — Thu, 03 May 2007 10:00:19 -0800

Can you give some advice on going to Mexico for El Dia de los Muertos? I'm interested in traveling to Mexico for El Dia de los Muertos. I have been to Mexico many times but will claim no special knowledge that might help me answer my own question. I want to avoid the common tourist traps. Can you recommend a state/city/town/village that I might travel to that would be good for El Dia de los Muertos? I have not yet decided if I will be traveling by car (from Midwest USA) or plane (then rental/cab/otherwise upon arriving). In answering you can assume an American with enough Spanish language skills to get by. Can you give any other pertinent advice, ideas, or suggestions for this trip (even places to stop along the way if I drive)? I know there is much info available through Google but I am hoping for some first hand experience (or advice from those generally knowledgeable about Mexico).

Help me plan an "escape from the city" vacation

postergeist — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:01:58 -0800

Help me plan an "escape from the city" vacation I was born and raised in NYC and it is where I live now. I love this city and I will probably never leave it for good but every now and then I really need to get out of it and take in wide open spaces. It is not only great for a change of perspective but for me its necessary for the spirit.

What I have been really craving in my mind is doing something like going and staying on a ranch somewhere for a week or two and taking in serene surroundings, slowing down my city sense of time. Though in a way I know I probably romanticize this idea somewhat.

It stems from when I visited a friend in Albequerque, NM and we drove the road from Alb. to Santa Fe. For anyone who knows this landscape you will know what I mean.. theres something spiritually magical about it in a way I can't articulate..the land is somehow just... enchanted... if you will.. anyway it is the image I have in my mind.

So now i'm thinking something like Mexico or Central America somewhere but I have no idea what I want exactly. I've always wanted to see the landscapes of Mexico from those Carlos Castaneda books I read as a teenager.

Well I think i've by now very verbosely introduced my question which is .. can anyone recommend some kind of road trip / experience / idea that would scratch this itch?

Is Oaxaca safe today?

carmina — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 09:04:22 -0800

OaxacaTravel: How about now? I understand that the political situation and civil unrest have averted people from visiting Oaxaca over the last few months, but this is the place I have always wanted to visit while in Mexico. Work is taking me to Acapulco in May and I hope to escape soon enough and head south but this previous question from AskMe has me thinking. Could I possibly hear back from the honeymoon couple if they chose to go there? Or other people who live in Mexico or traveled there recently? How is the situation today? Any projections for next month? Would it be better safety-wise to stay somewhere in the outskirts or entirely outside the city but visit it daily? In case it is helpful I also hold a Greek passport.

Finally, I would also be grateful for any book recommendations about Mexico's history and culture. Grazias.

Mexico City and Puebla at Easter

mdonley — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:53:21 -0800

My mom and I are going to Mexico City and Puebla for the rest of this week and next and we're curious about a few (small!) things. We'd love to know, if you can spare a few kind words:

- what's open (and where to eat!) on Easter Sunday
- tips for a nice cup of coffee and a sit down after doing the museums/churches/etc in the Bosque de Chapultepec and the Zocalo
- the best times of day to hit up the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Teotihuacan, as they're a bit further out of the center

We're staying a few blocks north of Reforma in the Zona Rosa in DF and in the colonial center of Puebla. We've got a guidebook or two and we can speak some Spanish.

Gracias!

My first askmetafilter post!

ElmerFishpaw — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:39:48 -0800

MexicanRoadTrip Filter: Im driving my car to Oaxaca. Where should I stop? Never been.
I'm aware of all of the paperwork and insurance and technical stuff thanks to askmefi and aaa, but I dont know much else.

Ive got 3 weeks (in June) to get to Oaxaca and back. Maybe a little rushed but not too bad, right?

The Pacific Coast looks like it'll be more interesting than inland. True?
When possible I wanna stay away from overly-touristy spots (because I can because I'll have my car, y'know?). And while I am looking forward to interesting towns and cities, I'd prefer to orient as much of the trip as possible around the natural beauty and cool ruins Mexico has to offer.

Which spots are good for camping/hiking/ruins/villiages along the pacific coast? or the oaxaca area?

I've heard all the warnings about corrupt cops and highway bandits and stuff and dont need any more. Got it. Im still going.
I just need info on cool spots I can park and sleep and take day trips/hikes along the way, how many miles per day is realistic on mexican highways, ANY online resources for mexican camping road trips. Im just getting started with planning.

Thanks!

Campeche, Córdoba, or Quito?

dondiego87 — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:44:22 -0800

Help me decide where to live for a month (all expenses paid): Campeche, Mexico; Córdoba, Argentina; or Quito, Ecuador. I'm a college student who is currently considering an environmental science internship this summer (probably June) in Latin America. The choices are Campeche, Mexico; Córdoba, Argentina; or Quito, Ecuador. All expenses (flight, food, lodging) will be taken care of by my university. I may or may not have access to a car -- let's assume I won't.

I'm trying to decide which of these three cities to apply for. I'm looking for information important to any city dweller -- recreation, safety, water quality, shopping, etc. -- about each to factor into my decision. Also, information about the availability and quality of phone and internet access (esp. wifi hotspots or internet cafes) is going to be important.

Some miscellaneous information:

This post about Quito provided some helpful ideas. "arabelladragon" had some useful tips, but I'm concerned about the "don't ever wear shorts in Quito" line. I only wear pants when it's required by the dress code, so a no-shorts policy could be a problem. Is this an etiquette thing, a safety issue, or what?

I'm a big outdoorsing fan, so anywhere that has ample opportunities for hiking, kayaking, etc. would be great. These would probably have to be day trips, since I doubt I'm going to bring my camping equipment and I will be working normal business days.

Right now I'm leaning away from Campeche because the temperatures there during the summer are much hotter than the mid-to-upper 60s that are average for Córdoba and Quito. I do realize, however, that this shouldn't be a major factor in my decision.

Thanks so much for your help!

Going to see about a canal

letitrain — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:02:49 -0800

What is the driving distance from the southern California border to the Panama Canal? I need driving distance, not as the crow flies. From my crummy map, it looks like around 3500 miles one way, but I'm hoping to get a more accurate estimate. General Mexico and Central American driving and travel tips are appreciated, too. Thanks!

Cruise ship travel questions...

MathewS — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:33:32 -0800

I won a cruise to Baja, Mexico!! Now what do I do when I get there?? Help me by Suggesting things to do at the ports of call& First& the details&

The cruise is from Carnival Cruises on the "Paradise" - I depart on February 5th& and I know nothing about anything& so I have a few questions...

The weather& (blame me being from Canada and never going so far south& ) Will it be warm in Mexico ? Or cool and rainy?

What should I do when I get there ?
The ship has stopovers at Catalina Island, CA and then Ensenada, Mexico - I don't have much money to go on ship sponsored outings& plus I like the idea of doing things off the beaten path& what should I do when we get to these places?

Is it safe to just wander around carrying a DSLR in Ensenada?

is crime a fear I should be worries about?

Have any other cruise tips ?

THANKS! :)

Crawling through Monterrey

repoman — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:06:51 -0800

Please help with suitable nightlife (good bars) in Monterrey, Mexico. From the U.S. and looking for something cool/funky. No dance clubs please. Will be here for three nights and located downtown. Willing to taxi anywhere. Local flavor a plus. Thanks.

Cosas hacer en Morelia?

Wet Spot — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 12:56:45 -0800

I'm visiting Morelia, Mexico this week, arriving just in time to miss the Virgin de Guadalupe fiesta, and staying about a week. Suggestions? Any suggestions for interesting things to do, places to go, stuff to eat? I'm planning to make day trips to the Monarch butterfly sanctuary and Patzcuaro. Is a trip to Tzintzuntzan worth it? Isle Janitzio? Quiroga? Volcan Paricutin? Good places to buy folk art?

Anyone interested in a meetup?

Internet Cafes-How Safe Are They

rglass — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 10:30:10 -0800

Secure internet access at an internet cafe? I leave for 10 days in Mexico tomorrow and will be using internet cafes daily. I will need to check my bank and credit card accounts every few days. How can I make sure my connection is secure? I have a USB stick and will be using Portable Firefox whenever possible.

advise on vacationing in huatulco

Country Dick Montana — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 13:00:43 -0800

Hello all! First post here (be gentle :). Me and the gf are heading to Huatulco, Mexico in January... and we are looking for any advise (who, what, where, when how). We are booked at an all-inclusive but are looking to explore the area and the people. Tell us more!

Travel tips for Mexico?

kdern — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 08:26:49 -0800

Leaving in one week for Mexico. Any travel tips or things that we must see or do? Going to Merida, Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Playa del Carmen and Isla Mujeres. In Playa and on Isla, we'll mostly be on the beach, but any tips would be great.

I'll be in Valladolid for one night and Merida for 2 full days, and I'll just be exploring. Any suggestions appreciated.

Also - transportation tips? Planning to take inexpensive buses everywhere (ADO and Riviera bus lines).

Hotels not needed - all are already booked.

Mexico beach vacation

gokart4xmas — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 21:51:55 -0800

Recommendations for beach vacation in Mexico in March? My husband and I would like to take a short vacation in March to a beach somewhere in Mexico. We are interested in the idea of an all-inclusive resort, but we have the following reservations: 1) I'm a vegetarian, 2) we're not big drinkers, 3) we don't want to be completely cut off from local culture. On the other hand, we don't speak Spanish, we don't want to rent a car, and we want things to be as convenient as possible. Also, my husband wants to learn to surf. Any recommendations for places to go? I won't say price is no object, but we do want a high level of service and a feeling of luxury.

Beach camping & fishing in Quintana Roo, Mexico?

Jujee — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:18:11 -0800

Hubby and I are planning a last minute trip to Mexico. We're going to fly into Cancun and don't plan on renting a car since we're on a tight budget. We'd like to find a beach campground that's along the Caribbean Sea where we can stay away from crowds and just relax and maybe even do some shore fishing. Would be great it's within walking distance to a small local restaurant of sorts or even if it's just stalls. Does one exist? For the life of me, I have not been able to find any budget beach camping information online. I guess what makes it more difficult is that we'd like to be able to get there by bus and/or colectivo, if possible and it will be during the holidays! I knew I should have researched before booking but we got a good price and well...it will be winter and we could use the sun! Anyone BTDT? :) p.s. I'm totally open to suggestions! TIA!!!

Donde estan sus papeles?

mdonley — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 07:37:39 -0800

Can we leave our California-registered car in the Tijuana airport parking lot for a week? Should we? Mom and I are going to Mexico City in April for my birthday (yay!), and it's heaps cheaper to fly from Tijuana instead of LAX, and we live about the same distance from both.

The plan is this:

- drive down there
- cross at Otay Mesa (which is thankfully not San Ysidro, the busiest border crossing in the world)
- drive to the airport (theoretically just ten minutes away!)
- park
- enjoy a TSA-goon-free airport experience
- fly to Mexico City
- repeat in reverse a week later

So: does anyone know if we leave our car at the airport for that period of time? Should we? What needs to happen at the border - do we need to get some sort of importation permit for the car since we're there for more than 72 hours? Where do our passports get stamped at a drive-through border like Otay Mesa? And what if something happens to the car and we're far away, but still in Mexico - do we need to be physically near our car for the insurance we may have to purchase to apply?

Various posts and links here have talked about driving past the "border zone," or just travelling by car in Mexico generally, but none seem to have addressed this specific question.

NB: We (sort of) speak Spanish, and we live ten miles from a Mexican consulate. We've also parked at those adjacent-to-the-border parking places in San Ysidro, but they seem to be far shadier than an official airport parking lot would be.

Thanks/Gracias!

Help me plan a Mexico Christmas Trip

theperfectcrime — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:57:42 -0800

Help me plan my Xmas trip to Mexico! I've decided to take a trip around Dec. 23 to around January 2 to probably the area of Guanajato and San Miguel de Allende with my mom (early 60's, anglo if that matters). My guidebook lacks some essential details. What is the nearest airport or best form of transport to/from (should we fly into Mexico City and take a 4 hr. bus, or would there be a simpler route?) What are essential sightseeing spots? Any suggested accomodations/itineraries? What is the weather gonna be like? Security issues? I would like this to be a very full cultural and sociable experience for my mom, as she seems pretty depressed lately; she's always had a curious mind and I think this experience should be emotionally healthful for her. We'll be travelling from Texas. Thanks in advance!
btw, I don't have a valid passport; I've heard through the grapevine that US citizens will need one when traveling to Mexico on or after Jan. 1, 2007. I realize I still need to get a tourist visa if i'm staying there longer than 72 hours, but will not having a passport jack me up coming back over the border after that deadline? anyone know? Thanks!

Do I really need to renew my passport?

rglass — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 12:38:53 -0800

Is it a necessity to have a passport when traveling to Mexico? I will be traveling from St. Louis to Mexcio in mid-December. Do I need a passport or will a driver's license suffice? What have they asked for upon your arrival?