Friday, October 13, 2006

- OAXACA, MEXICO - SPECIAL REPORT

ESPAÑOL
REPORT, December the 5th of 2006. Very hard moments is living the city of Oaxaca, and the whole state. The goverment repression is being terrible and it is not safe at all visiting the city right now. There have been several reports about foreigners being bothered by police, and even some deportations. If you want to visit other sides of the state like the Pacific coast or so, you can do it but having big cautions.

General:

The situation is complex in the southern state of Oaxaca in Mexico since there are lots of ancient and news social issues without solution so now the trouble has scaled up at a point of violence, and it could even increase much more. Nevertheless the main zone where the conflic is shown is the capital city and some places in the pacific coast, both areas of a big turistical importance.

In the case of the city certainly the situation for the visitor can be not confortable as usually can be, but well, in the case of the confort is the most important aspect of a trip, i think it is much better choosing a completely different area. There are many small hoteles and even somebig ones open in the center of oaxaca city, and even becasue the conflict it could be possible to find budget offers to sleep there, the only issue to take care is that such hotels are not too far from centre, maybe some five blocks aways could be good enough at least while traveler get used to the city rythms. Anyway all this depends of the daily reports since situation is changing sometimes from a day to day.

In the case of the coast side, well, the main roblem can be reaching such places like Mazunte, Zipolite, Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, Puerto Angel since the main road to get there is also the road used for goberment police and army to get to the capital, and also the road used by organizations to move their people to the same point, so often suffer from obstacles, thus not possible to make plans, accurate ones at least, when crossing such points.

Ok, so, it is possible to make a trip good enough to Oaxaca right now? .. mm i would say yes, it is, but taking good cautions and among these ones, being informed well enough is absolutly basic.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

- NORTHERN ZONE: JALISCO, GUANAJUATO, QUERETARO, SAN LUIS POTOSI, ZACATECAS, SINALOA, SONORA, DURANGO, CHIHUAHUA, COAHUILA, BAJA CALIFORNIA

ESPAÑOL
In this section of the “Northern zone” we will include states that also are towards the east and the West of country, but that finally occupies North half of the territory. This zone has other types of interests for the visitors. If it is that it is possible to make a division sharp, to the south are the territories with but ethnic load, where the ruins of spectacular cultures even can be seen by the magnitude whereupon they were built and the climate that with variants even returns towards the frankly selvatico tropic or. The north is modest in this sense, nevertheless has some magical, impressive places in its nature.

SINALOA STATE

Mazatlan

One is to 1000 kilometers of distance of the City of Mexico, to the northwest. By the distance much people who can prefer to go in airplane, nevertheless it is comlpetamente possible to go in bus, and these leave in the Terminal of the North.

Attractive but the common ones in the city of Mazatlan are: Main seat, square Machado, Ángela theater Peralta, Archaeological museum, monument to the Deer, hill of the Heroin shooting gallery, the Light, Mazatlán Aquarius, beach High Waves, beach the Gulls, Sábalo beach, beach Witches, Cerritos beach, Island Deer, Island Birds, Island of the Stone.

CHIHUAHUA STATE

Paquime

Paquime is to about 350 kilometers of the city of Chihuahua, this stuck to Great Houses, Chihuahua also.


GUANAJUATO STATE

San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is more or less to one hour of the city of Guanajuato. She is one of but the famous colonial cities in Mexico founded on 1542. As other colonial cities are attractive for the visitors by the side streets, the facades, the colors, sure whenever we speak of the historical part, the center peus the periphery does not have anything of “colonial”, but good, this is indeed part of San Miguel de Allende, construcion of a tourist place in where there is ua great amount of tourists and foreign residents that enjoy “the good” part of the city. Without emabargo the architectonic elements of the old helmet of the city, although many have been remosados and even modified, they even can be extremely intersantes! It is worth the trouble to know them.

ZACATECAS STATE

Real de Catorce

“Real” it is a town that sometimes was a rich provider of silver for the entire world, today the main attraction for people, most of her is peyote.

- SOUTHERN ZONE: OAXACA, CHIAPAS, YUCATAN, CAMPECHE, TABASCO, QUINTANA ROO

ESPAÑOL
OAXACA STATE

The city of oaxaca ecuentra to about 500 kilometers of the DF, and to 6 hours in bus of the same one, are several lines that leave for there daily in different schedules, the cost goes of to 400 pesos (25-40 about 250 USD) simple ticket. Although other terminals with services exist towards that city, most of the buses leave of I COVER, that are the terminal of buses of the east, beaten and connected to the station San Lazaro of the Meter (by the way in the outskirts of these stations it is a zone of risk during the day and of high risk during the night, if it is not known, it is necessary to try on the inside to journey of the stations and terminals). Also it is possible to travel in airplane to that same destiny.

In the case of the bus it is possible to travel at night with great security i a line like ADO or Cristobal Colon and others that travel by the freeway (all those that they do around 6 hours) because she is extremely safe and comfortable.

The city of Oaxaca is famous for several reasons, firstly has mainly a well conserved architecture in the centric part with some constructions in very good state made in century XVI, exist near the city several archaeological zones of interest left by the culture zapoteca, a distinguishing culture of the zone. Thus, it is possible in hours to Monte Alban or Mitla taking an economic bus, of about 5 USD. Another one of the interesting elements is the food, the culinaria variety of Oaxaca is famous, its meats, garlic sausages, cheeses, candies are puden to consume in the markets public or in the streets, algunaos of those foods do not have comparison in any other part of the world, are direct inheritance of the pre-Hispanic elements and the Spaniards and French. in this same line some mythical foods or like chapulines exist (grasshoppers) that are sold by the streets like peanut, although sometimes by the season they can escacera, these of eat like cocktail snack when a beer is taken or the typical drink from the place: mezcal. The painting oaxaqueña has reached certain reputation by its characteristic colors and subjects, as well as the orginarios dresses of the place that imply colorful weaves different from the found ones in other parts of the country.

PRECAUTIONS. When becoming a tourist place, extremely oaxaca has increased the prices, now it must pay but to sleep in places that until years ago cost half less or, thus he is recommendable to try to stay itself not in center of the city but moving away some blocks but always verifying that they are safe zones, in the city of oaxaca, the majority they are it luckyly (if we spoke of the historical center).

When ys and between a goes away to the market near the princiapal seat (market 20 of November) that corridor deonde estan concinando the meats and smells wonderfully well, before requesting, it is necessary to ask for everything what it goes away to aconsumir, everything! including toritllas, and the basket where they serve them because usually they receive very expensive by any thing, unfortunately I arrive the “free commerce” at this place that was originally where the greater people of the place were going to eat well with some cents, that is not but thus, so precaution, always is necessary to ask for all the prices!

About the mezcal, like other things that are affected with the high tourism, the quality of products as the mezcal has lowered greatly. It is continued producing the best mezcal (species of “delicious tequila” but for my but, but aromatic one) in oaxaca, but normally outside the populated city, enpequeños and sometimes it is possible to be found in some bar of the center but it is difficult. Today to almost all the bottles that sell they put a worm to them inside, thing that was not common but as the tourism requests it make it to verder it better, but that does not do to the content of the bottle I legitimize…


CHIAPAS STATE

Chiapas is a very special state in Mexico, not only reason why it has made it in elmundo last the ten years famous that are the EZLN and sup Marks, if not by several singular characteristics. Amount has one is enough of wealth vegetal, has species not seen in other places, forests and forests humid immense and by all means in great zones, ruins Mayan, many of old and but important cities Mayan encontrane in this state perhaps, just like some important colonial vestiges, but interesting and the beautiful one are San Cristobal of the Houses, yet what it implies when a little is known him but I submerge, not only loq ue announces by the salesmen of tures, but when a little is known the history that finalemente has given rise to the Zapatista guerrilla. It is an impressive place.

Between attractive the natural ones which they are encuetran in the state of Chiapas they estan: Lake Colon, Lago Miramar, Mouth of the Sky, Lakes of Montebello, Tube of the Drain, river Lacantun, river Usumacinta, Lacandona forest, Blue Water cascades and others.

The cities probably but importantes..com or cities, not like populations. to visit they are, by all means San Cristobal of the Houses, and Tapachula, this completes but as a point to continue towards Central America although counts on some attractive and enough economic importance.

As far as colonial architecture, they are Chiapa de Corzo, Comitan de Dominguez and San Cristobal of the Houses, the sites that have them.

Palenque

Palenque is a locality without greater interest stops most of the travellers, in fact the town that does not have great tourist recuersos was marked sadly by a military establishment and as always it happens in these cases, with it I arrive the ofereta from drug, prostitution and the violence in general. But it is fundamental to happen this way to be able to arrive the archaeological ruins from Palenque, that are without a doubt one of but the showy ones of the Mayan culture. The town is not dangerous, ys and can walks with tranquillity in all its central part although there is a little harassment from the drunk men who usually walk of time in time by the nights towards the foreign tourists, but to where I have perceived after several visits nothing of great care. Normally of duer a single night to me in this place to be able to go with calm to the ruins that are to about 10 kilometers of distance and it goes in a light truck that is taken in one from the streets that leave to the only and main avenue, indeed on which this the terminal of buses, but ahead will try to put some reference better. The cost is of about 20 pesos of going and the same of return or perhaps less if it is not high season. It is arrived in minutes, is necessary to pay a species of small tax in a crossroad. sometimes! . .y despue sla corresponding entrance to the archaeological zone that is of about 35 Mexican pesos (3 USD). It is necessary to go early for two reasons, first to be able to have the time to enjoy it walks, and second at noon because it makes a heat tremendous, so he is better to conmenzar early. or perhaps in the evening also but taking into account that as most of the archaeological zones in Mexico they are closed to 5 of afternoon. Watch you enormous you hoist them of avocado that covers a good part with the zone, there by where this the river, lowers to the cellars of pyramids, between a the tomb of Pakal, raises the end of the temple that this in the part of back imagining what the Mayans veian old, enjoys. It is an exceptional zone.

Tips. In order to sleep in Palenque it tries to find some small hotel in the street of “back” of the main avenue. Going of the terminal of bus towards the center by the obvious avenue, main and 2 caudras before arriving where this avenue is closed. that it is a species of plazita… takes in some intersection to the left perhaps (sees a Bancomer bank, that way) to the following block turns to the right to walk by a parallel street to the main one, that way there are several small and economic, very safe hotels and some quite clean ones.


YUCATAN STATE

Yucatan is an important state for the tourism, mainly aque that this interested in the ruins of the Mayan culture, to know some communities Mayan origin where they are puden to sometimes watch some expressions in the textiles, the food and by all means the language. The gastronomy yucateca has characteristics differentiated from other zones although it is not of but the ample ones and it is a mixture of European and Arab elements Mayan with, strong in flavors and scents, with many spices and frequently meat.

Some natural reserves exist that usually are expensive for the visitors because they estan designed like in other points of the country, mainly in the Southeastern, for the foreign visitor. The crossing by the state can serve as connection with the part of the Mexican Caribbean that goes from Cancun to Chetumal, near the border with Belize, thus, if one this traveling from Oaxaca, or Chiapas and has thought to arrive to beaches of Quintana Roo, that is to say, the beaches of the Caribbean (cancun, island women, beach of carmen, tulum, etc) sera a good idea to cross by the state to travez of terrestrial transport to concer some classic Mayan archaeological zones, as well as some towns that can be interesting, nevertheless habra that to put attention in not trying to sleep in the shelters or hotels of the tourist zones because the prices are elevated, it is necessary to look for options, in Valladolid and Merida, is possible to find some quarters from hotel to relatively economic price, about 20 USD, in low season. One of the routes frequented by the travellers is the route San Cristobal of the Houses-Tulum, in Quintana Roo, can become per stretches of bus, for example, first stage to Palenque, the Mayan archaeological zone, of to merida there, later pueblear to happen through Chichen-Itza, later Valladolid and of there aTulum, Playa del Carmen, etc (it is the same highway).

- CAUTIONS IN MEXICO

ESPAÑOL
In the airport of the City of Mexico

like a kind of confusing..at least! .. "welcome" to the city, the first time visitor can find a kind of tricky the way to get out from the Airport of Mexico city. The main problem is not with thieves that some times take your bag and run away, more and more rare phenomena, nor the first scenes of the mexico city traffic, but the main problem can be the taxis. Of course in many places for turism they suggest that turist should take one of the taxis which opearates with offices inside the aereal terminal, well, they have reasons to make such suggestion some clear ones other not very much, but the true based in my experience is that those taxis besides asking for far too much money, often, by periods are used by assaulters, criminals very often alied with police, so my suggestion is if possible always taking the undergound trian called Metro in Mexico city, it is still the safest transport mean in the City and there is aAirport terminal called "Terminal Aerea" ( caution! is not the one with the name: " Aeropuerto" which is near the place but far to walk. Only in the case you arrive after 11 in the night, you will have then to take a taxi from the airport offices becasue then can be risky you going out from airport with your bags. Anyway remember most of days Metros closes at 12:00 in the night.

In the urban transport

Usually as long as the city is growing up the transport is getting more..chaotic. I could be different, but well, it is not. In Mexico city, a incredible wide metropoli, there many distinc ways to move besides the partucular vehicles, so one can find Metro which is underground trian, many different lines of buses, some of them.. mostly...private and some by goberment of the city, microbuses which a re very famous because their criminal vocation, trolleys, taxis, different kind of them, ah! and "bicitaxis".. as you can guess, with human power applied to a bike.


In the case of Metro, i think it is possible to trust in most of circumstances, of course there are periods when there are lot of interruptions along the different lines but not too long as to switch off to other transport, and only when there is an incident.. like sombody jumping into the lines or being trown into them! but most of times is possible to make a schedule using this train network. The cost is about 20 cents of USD and you can use the same ticket as long as you prefer whenever you don`t leave the stations, o r leave the system in general, if you go out, when coming back yuo have to pay again but very cheap anyway. Two importan things for using the Metro, first specially in the case of women, be carefull with "touchers", they take advantage of the most crowded periods ( 7-9 in the morning, 1-3 afternoon, 6-9 at night) to enjoy of the people jaming particularily if they have women in front, around, or.. under them! Be careful, and always, always if this is happening to you, don`t keep silent, speak out against, move away, don´t let him/her/them be around you, i have heard of cases very impressive. Anyway i would to say that rapes are incredible rare inside the train system, as long as i remember there have been maybe some very few of them the whole history of Metro with more than 30 years now, anyway is prudent trying to avoid being in underground, some lines at least after 11:00-11:30 in the night. The other point, in certain stations ( later i will make a detailes plan )where the connections are possible.. there are many even with multiple connections, in the peak hours.. correcto say so? .. crowded hours, people puch a lot without care, so never be close to the rails, there have been many cases where people falls and die because the electric shock or smashed by the trains. Never near the edge of the plataform if people is behind you.

In the case of the urban buses, the problem is no really the security, usually there are very few robbery in them, but the lack of routes and the times. The main avenues have usually a good number of buses crossing most of the day, even the whole night, but in the other places of the city is not the same, so if it is possible to use a bus it is just fine, although it is not easy to make a plan based on it. The price of most buses is around 20 cents USD. In the case of the "peseros" "minibuses" or "micros".. uuuuf! the case is very differente. They can be useful when you are in a big hurry, when there is not other options like Metro o bus, then take a "pesero" but they can be very dangerous, becasue they are assaulted, or becasue the can crash, they are with exception of some routes in rich areas, dirty, smelly, terrible drivers. Usually they work since 5 in the morning to 12 in the night, but since they are out of control, they can make special routes with other times, all depends of the drivers mood. I don recomend them in general, but they are the most popular transpor in the city becasue there are lots of them. The price is around 30 cents USD.

Taxis. Try to take taxis which has a base or a terminal, a steady site caleld "taxis de sitio", because at least it is supposed those ones have certain control with their members, so possible to identify a driver, but anyway always try to be alert. But most of the taxis what run the city are green ones, which has not control point, so in that case, try to choose a good one, look a the driver and chek what kind of guy look like ( mostly are men), if you see a man with bad appearence, bad look, don take it, wait for another one, they have to have clean the car, and near them hanging the driving card, a big one with picture and nombers, try to check everything is coherent, clean car, good person, the card, outside the car no so dirty, etc. this can help you a lot and in certain cases, save your live. There are many other different kind of taxis, some white ones, with not signs, which are cheaper but risky, they are "tolerados" , tolerated, such drivers have a kind of agreement with some kind of authority to make the service. Avoid them. Some pink colored, they are from specific sites with checking points, you can try them.
It it supposed that all the legal taxis have a time counter to give you the bill, always when you aboard one, ask if it is working ok, and if not, then ask for the final price before starting to go, if not agree change. the minumun is around 2 USD, and crossing half of the city in a day with not much traffic woudl cost some 7 USD.

Trolley. They are genial! .. good slow transport for old people, saved from robbery, silent, great. Unfortunately they are few lines, only in some of the main avenues you can find them, so no very good for scheduling a trip, but if you find one matching your route, take it! the cost is around 20 cents USD.

Bicitaxis. Well, pintoresque and now and then useful if you find one with the trafic jam make hard the big buses to cross, but be careful, if they go by a high traffic street it can be dangerous since other drivers don`t respect me very much. Cost depends of the distance and the client, should be around 50 centos USD. Agree with the driver before starting.


In foods

Well, this seccion is only about cautions, so i am not going to mention the enourmous and delicious stuff which can be found in the mexican gastronomy, this hopefully will be treated in other chapter.

The main issue for the visitor to Mexico is the possibility to get a stomach illness, well, of course is completely possible and more, if you are trying to explore really the paths of the mexican culture, i would say: for sure! you will get stomach problmes at certain moment, but it worths. Anyway there are different kind of advices to try to avoid at the maximun the chances of spending your trip in a WC. Most of the traveler advicer surely you know about it already, but here i will tell you some local information to complement. First at all, in the City there are lots of places to eat, popular ones and expensive ones, and not necessarily expensiveones are the clean ones, at least not where they preprae food, maybe the tables and the waiter are clean but so is the meals?. I strongly suggest go and try on the streets, try to taste, you will find fantastic food. When yo are a just arrived person, begin with any kind of "snakcs" prepared with corn, fried of toasted, try to avoid cheese, fat, "chicharron" ( fried pork meat) and chicken, instead of these, ther are "nopales" the national cactus which is very good for health and expremely popular, you can ask it as ensalada over your think tortilla called "sope", or ask for a "quesadilla" wich is a toritilla feld in the middle with nice tuff inside, it can be with mashrooms, cheese, salad, pumpkin flowers, onions, etc. As for stuuf made with vegetables, and try to eat mashrooms mostly in the big cities, becasue in the little towns could be a little dangerous if a bad one is mixed with the rest, there have being massive intoxication because of it.

You will need your own stock of mexian bacteria, but you need to get it gradually, so the first days try to eat those things made with corn, and you can buy bread in the backery, try sweet bread called "biscochos" but also you can pick up some "bolillos" wich is white mexican bread made with influence of french and austrian ones, it is very good to be stuffed with chili, tomatoes, cheese boutgh in the store and other things, very cheap and very soft for stomach good option for the first days. Later when you start to recognize what is what about meals, you can start to explore some meats maybe and some other fried things, there are lots in the streets! maybe , in case you are meat eater, you goal can be have a stomach adapted enough to try the absolutly delicious street tacos!!! nothing to do with those strange things they sell in restaurants outside mexico, if you like meat, you have to try some, but well, try to find a no so bad place before because unfortunately, many people get ill eating tacos in the street.

Chili!.. Well, you are or you will be in the country of chili so you will be able to enjoy it, but be pondering becasue weak stomachs can suffering if much cilil is eaten. Try to eat it completely chopped or chewed because some strong chilis which get to the stomach in big pieces and remain for long there can make severe wounds.

With Water

The general rule is never drink water from the tops, no matter how expensive the hotel can be, no matter what the local people say. But of course as always there can be variants, and exceptions to the rule, but suggest to break the rule only after being a time in the country and have learn to distiguish the kind of water source you are in front of. In the expensive zone of the DF, called "Santa Fe" there are different water sources so, some studies show that water is much better than in the rest of the city, but anyway not in the whole zone and other thing is the state of the tubes, so better not trying. In the other hand, as the guides say, try to drink always sealed water bottles, and i would say that if you ask for such bottle in a restaurant, ask for the biggest bands, since there are many fake clean waters for turist that are bought in cheap restaurants, that water is not clean enough and anyway you will have to pay for it.


In the countryside transport

The main routes in in the country are run by good buses in big lines. The high ways are mostly in good condition and there is not problem, the buses are confortable although a bit expensive ( a bit more than in chile and argentina to compare in the continent). If the journay will be to a popular destination, surele is safe enough traveling over night, this is the case, of all places like DF-oaxaca, DF-cancun, Df most in chiapas, DF-veracruz, DF-yucatan, etc. When trip big city, to big city, surely the bus will run over good speed ways, but in the case the trip is to small towns, can chenge the situation, then it is good idea planning the trip along the day. And in the case of using a not first class bus in local routes, then it is very importan to do it in the day light since it is not rare to be assaulted.

To make a calculation of times and prices, make a calculation in the link ticketmaster that you can find in the seccion "urgency and logistic information".

- CENTRAL ZONE: GUERRERO, PUEBLA, HIDALGO, EDO.MEXICO, MICHOACAN, TLAXCALA, VERACRUZ

ESPAÑOL
This zone i call "central" is not exactly in terms of geography the central part of the country nevertheless, i concider the possibilities of acces with bus and car and also because times to get most of places and cities and therefore i will name it like central zone of Mexico, even when it is extended to the southern part.

It is a zone with several attractive geographic ones and cultural and one is relatively close
of the DF (city of Mexico) in such a way that in many of the cases podria, to be necessary to go to the site and to return he himself day, thing little recommendable by the distances, but as I mention at the outset, mainly possible. This meciono like a referring one of distacia. In short, the zone “center” encuantra in a radius of less than 500 kilometers taking itself as center the DF and includes states that both have beaches to seas, Pacific and Atlantic in their form of Gulf of Mexico.

GUERRERO STATE

Probably the three sites but visited by the tourism in Guerrero are: Zihuatanejo, Acapulco and Taxco.

Acapulco and Zihuatanejo

As much in the case of Acapulco like the one of Zihuatanejo treated about beaches that originally were promoted for the rich and average class of Mexico, later Acapulco convirtio in a destiny for which they please of plyas tourist with great hotels of luxury and was during many years perhaps the famous beach but of Mexico. Today he has been displaced somewhat by Cancun. These two beaches do not ofrencen anything interesting for the traveller whom seriously it tries to concer “real” places and those prepared zones not to remove to the tourist until I complete dollar. Zihuatanejo probably less is contaminated of the two and perhaps
can find spaces with relative tranquillity, because in the case of Acapulco the dirt and
the aglomeriamiento makes a place own for that does not have idea which it is to enjoy the nature. On the other hand, the state of Guerrero has been always a state with certain degrees of violence, and in the last months have appeared signs that worry specially in the tourist zones because the violence appeared in these places this related to the drug trafficking
and the wars between the dealers where the Mexican government this inmiscuido. Thus, I personally do not recommend to lose the time and the money in any of these dirty places
and dangerous.

Taxco

Taxco is a mining town that was of first of this type founded on the continent. The silver is the mineral generated in the zone. By the previous thing it even conserves several architectonic elements of last times that can extremely be interesting: its church barroca, the alleys that raise and lower, the ceilings of red roofing tile, etc. Nevertheless the problem with Taxco from my point of view is that in the last few decades it has been promoted like a place where the extanjeros are going to live by some time and many, many, go of weekend a
to know it, thus, as it is logical, a good part of which it is possible to be seen has been prepared already explicitly for the tourist, bad thing. The cost is not of but the economic thing, especialemnte the lodging. I recommend in general and if she does not have by all means, some extra reason, to go a day and to return the following one, to look for an economic place to sleep. thing that is difficult reason why I have said before. There he is one of those sites where the hunters of foreigners walk by all the city, there are schools for foreigners who receive many dollars by any thing (like data, there is a branch of the Training center For Foreigners of the UNAM, CEPE), many neohippies smoking marijuana and trying to lie down with the visitors who can. The price of the bus is of around 100 pesos.


PUEBLA STATE

The state of Puebla is very accecible from the DF, is a very good one and fast freeway that it connects of the capital from the country to the capital of populates (Puebla of Los Angeles) in a pair of hours.
In geral it is a Calm state as far as social movement although it is not a rich state. On the other hand it has certain “closed” fame of, mainly in the ciudadades like the capital where at diverse moments certain related preservative attitude somewhat with the ecclesiastical control has prevailed. Nowadays the greater news is the incredible attitude of its governor who this related to abusadora people of children, the recording that it test has been spread widely in means, but the continuous governor in the power.

The sites but common to visit by the tourists in Puebla are probably the Puebla City of Los Angeles, Cholula and the national park Izta-Popo.

Puebla of Los Angeles

This city is more or less to 130 kilometers of the DF, there the tourists usually visits the Socle, the Museum Shelter, the House of the Dolls, the Temple of the Company and the Cathedral.

I personally pondria this city like one of the first a not to visit in Mexico, but very usually is recommended to the traditional tourists by the travel agencies, in any case a visit of a pair of day podria to be sufficient.

Gastronomically it is important to try to prove the Mass Poblano, the Sweet potato of Puebla (sweet by a root. sweet Pope) and other remendables desserts.

It is possible to be arrived from the DF, by airplane from the interenacional airport Benito Juarez, or by bus or particular car, even by taxi if he is desired to spend much money. By bus in the station I COVER (meter San Lazaro) with numerous lines, and numerous exits all the day.

Particular alarm as far as insecurity does not exist nevertheless the risk of an assault or another problem is similar to the one of the city of Mexico.

Park Nacional Izta- Popo

This park includes as its name shows it, the Iztaccihuatl mountain and Popocatepetl volcano, both are together sharing their skirts and estan in the dividing line between the state of Mexico and the state of Puebla (the state of Mexico is or of the states that composes the Mexican Republic and is contiguous with the DF, in fact a great part of the metropolitan area of the City of Mexico is partly of the state of Mexico).
The attractive principial of this national park is by its beauty for which they please of the mountain climbing nevertheless are some obstacles to conciderar at this moment:

The access to the part of Popocatepetl volcano this almost permanently closed for several years being east volcano in activity, so but the possible thing is that it is little probable to be able to approach the sufficient thing to be able to enjoy a good Vista. In second lugarcomo the access road does not have I journey constant have appeared cases of assaults and violations to motorists who try to raise, mainly very behind schedule during the day
or at night. Thus, he is not nothing recommendable in general terms.

In the case of the Iztaccíhuatl mountain (well-known also like “woman sleepy”) he is but safe the real property rental nevertheless habria that to do it in company of which knew the region well and the sufficient confidence was had to him.

They exist on the other hand, diverse populations in the low parts of the skirts where I could be visited, without emabrgo it is good for doing it with people who then know the routes are not places with good communications.

Cholula

Cholula is comprising of aream metropolitan of the city of Puebla, so
its very easy access and. At the present time she is somewhat well-known between the young people to have relatively ample nocturnal life, compared with other parts of the state this perhaps must that there encuetra camps main of the UDLA (University of the Americas) a private university created for students of rich rich families and means of Mexico, then I could be guessed the type of atmosphere that prevails in the zone…

Nevertheless, Cholula is really important by its archaeology, is the high pyramid but of the world there, a pyramid pacialmente buried and that in its top maintains small inglesia of the colonial time. Cholula was a most important city in Mexico pre-Hispanic, pertaining to the mexica empire (Aztec) are some who assure that it was the city with but constant population of all the American continent. In short, by all means that is worth the trouble to know this site.


SUGGESTIONS IN PUEBLA STATE:

Cuetzalan:

A place very intereasnte for several reasons, first is that when being in the high part but of the mountain range of Puebla, indeed near the imaginary line that separates the states of Puebla and Veracruz, its access is not simple, thus, although some tourists in Easter and summer arrive specially, in general is not contaminated so with this phenomenon. He does some few years was in the zone of Cuetzalan an incident with some English espeleologos that was very publcitado in Mexico and the world, as a result of that was certain height to visit the zone during some months but, but it seems that that no longer affects but. Cuetzalan has special characteristics, its vegetation is very abundant, a great variety of insects, birds, mammals, the mornings usually is very clean although soon it begins to rain, it is an incredibly humid place where the quisco that is to the center of a small and modest seat usually is green of the walls due to muzgo, it is a full place of birds that shouts and sings all the day, is possible to be walked by the environs visiting grottos, rivers, cascades, knowing the people of the place that not always speaks Spanish and that usually is very amiable. It is a community, rich in enormous traditions where they exist platio of coffee, good very cheap food and. There are places to sleep that they do not receive themselves very expensive, hotels also. He is very warm and in the this same rain always he falls well, by ncohes the clouds they take all the town and they exist some incredible scenes, bleats the pain much the place and to eat good 20 pesos of “tlayoyos” in the seat. Ah! something but, is a great amount of fossils in the zone, the litica consistency of those mountains do possible, if this interested, is necessary to take a small metal tool to be able to open some rocks.

Cuetzalan is to about 170 kilometers to the northeast of the capital of Puebla and to about 80 kilomtros to the East of Zacatlan. In order to go the simple form there but it is traveling from the DF, taking a bus in the station I COVER that custa about 170 pesos going, and is possible to make discount with credential of student auque is foreign (at least thus was until a few months ago), the line is called “Priera Extra” and encuetra almost before the line I ACCEPT MYSELF within the mentioned station. There are 3 daily exits, and it completes it arrives at last Cuetzalan the average night. Is possible to be arrived at that hour then it is not a dangerous place, and usually it is possible to find people who provide with accomodations to that hour in the central part that this hill arrives 4 blocks of where it leaves the bus. If lleag by day, is I magnify if the main street can be happened… walking two blocks upwards. .por to a store that there is in a corner alongside straight, there it has an old man and likeable a collection of tiny beasts collected in those earth, is impressive.

A subject but on this place, is a arqueoogica zone very near call “Yohualichan”, can be gone in a light truck with wood house by a few weights, this zone says that it is like a Tajin in scale, that is the Tajin. good, we will see it ahead but, but it is an archaeological zone very visited in Veracruz.

Route Cuetzalan - Tajin:

Good, perhaps habra that to see if is interesting firstly to go to Tajin, because if it route does not lose a little its interest, but, if already must the idea to go to Tajin in Veracruz, this route can extremely be attractive, single that there is to maintain some concideraciones, is a route almost completely alternative until today. As we know, Cuetzalan this in the high part of the mountain range that divides to the state of Puebla with the one of Veracruz, then, exists the possibility of lowering by local ways of earth and stone all the mountain range until arriving practimente at the veracruzana coast, this is made in two or three days, walking or in bicycle but it is necessary that some of the travellers acceptably speaks espeañol because habra that to ask lodging some inhabitant of the zone and is possible that speaking even Spanish one cannot be communicated. Also it is necessary to conciderar to do it in time not of rains because the way becomes impassable. In short, this route is a very interesting posibilidada one to conciderar if it is that the traveller in the DF or Puebla remained during a time to plan it with calm. Recomeinda not to become it of spontaneous way. As always if information is wanted but or to comment on the subject me they can write a: russlann@tutopia.com


VERACRUZ STATE

The state of Veracruz is towards the East of the city of Mexico, is one of the states that form the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. One is to about 450 - 500 kilometers of the DF.

El Puerto ( The Harvour )

The port of Veracruz is one of the entrances from merchandise to the country, largely by this has a very important angular momentum. Attractive the tourist ones which usually they are visited most frequently are the Levee, the seat of Arms, the Fort of San Juan de Ulua, and the coffee the Parish. In this sense San Juan de Ulua it is of great interest because it comes from the colonial time and concerva in a quite good state, is agrdable to take a walk that way and to watch the tropical scene of this city that is famous also by the amount of travestis which they are, specially in time of carnival. When journeying by the city it is necessary to mainly have precaution because it is a somewhat dangerous city, in certain districts.

It is possible to be arrived by bus taking it in I COVER, many lines and many schedules, or also by airplane although normally the price of the flight is crazy.

Much heat all along, mosquitos, noisy city although cheer.

Xalapa

City located in the high part of mountains of Veracruz, to 5 hours by bus of the DF. More and more it has been lived by emograntes of diverse parts of the country, especialemente of the DF, but there is even an increasing population although modest even of foreigners because it has been constructed to certain fame to be cosy site for intellectuals and artists, this is relative although there is certain tendency to develop in this area. Some peculiarities as far as the superior education exist because desarrolo of the musical, graphical areas and some of scientific cut seems to be that they are estan developing of important way. Coverall is an pleasant city in center of the same one. Abundant galleries and recreacionales places, and the climate usually is pleasant most of the year. It is a recommendable place to visit.

Buses of different lines leave every day I COVER towards Xalapa.

One says that has been increased the violence and to the delinquency but even so usually it is a place relatively surely.

SUGGESTIONS IN VERACRUZ STATE:

Catemaco

This place usually is extremely interesting and although the tourism has grown that visits years in the last even maintains certain admosfera to it moved away of the tourist mercantilismo. The place is to the south of the state of Veracruz in the well-known region like the Tuxtlas, where a natural reserve exists quite interesting that also can be visited. Catemaco is a population that is in the creek of the Lake of he himself name, and is possible to reach about bus from the Port of Veracruz or from the City of Mexico, although they are several hours of day because the highway must be advancing by an intrincate road network.

Catemaco is a famous town in Mexico by its wizards. Desede for many years the people who need some type magical work has been directing to this place to look for aid, with this, surely now habra a good amount of people that has been improvised in this practices, without emabargo, is documentary data that make think actually about the existence of an original tradition in the site of the indigenous medicine and some you practice magical rituals.

In the neighborhood of Catemaco there are several sites where I could be acceded in boat or by highway where an important amount of wild life can be observed, birds, lizards, monkeys. that until for years they have been comian in tacos… and a vast tropical flora. The lodging can be obtained by much money if he is not very demanding, but also does not have for that wishes some hotels it with contemporary comforts.

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- MEXICO CITY

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Lodging

In the city of Mexico is an enormous amount of hotels, inns, houses of guests, shelters, etc. The main problem to choose one between as much variety resides in the zone in which it is wanted to live because the city of Mexico has an extension incredibly is enough. In most of the zones it is not adapted to settle for which just it arrives at the city unless it has some well-known that guides it in its installation, if it is not thus, the zones are reduced ahsta to be left a few basdicamente where usually the travellers arrivan by themselves. In center historical, they probablemten but the recommendable one if it is that one thinks to be during short time, because although is somewhat noisy and has some aprtes somewhat dangerous (already we will treat these you limit in another section) in general is a zone with a great amount of security and where it is possible to walk, even at night in alguans streets as it is possible to be done in many other cities of the world. But mainly, my recommendation is because in the picture of the Historical Center encontra a great amount of services and Mexican cultural elements that are quite interesting to know on the part of the traveller. Museums, murals, galleries, bars, seats, ruins, etc. The prices vary of about 120 Mexican pesos (100 USD) until several thousands of pesos by uan night. Normally it exists an extensive variety of small hotels that usually walk by the 200 - 300 daily USD, but is options to share and thus to lower the price of it. One can be provided with accomodations in a cheap option and be left to eat to a the street by a few dollars to the day, also are small called bars bars where beer by a dollar can be taken and, sometimes to know people interesting, although in most of the cases the boarded sera traveller by “ligadores” of foreigners (you), but the zone is safe in general.

Another zone that frequently is used by the travellers, although these usually are but of the type “tourist”, it is coyoacan, that is towards the south of the city, at about 10 kilometers of the Historical Center and at where can be arrived by Meter and be walked a little or taking a local transport. Coyoacan is a zone of high middle-class where it is lived on comfortable although expensive way. The houses and the parks of the place are pleasant, without emabargo people usually are somewhat heavy because they have the clumsy idea to think that to live automatically she turns them there sophisticated or cultured beings, completely false thing. Then if somebody wishes to stay in this place tendra that to normally conciderar a minimum price of 300 USD in ahead by a room in some surely architectonic pleasant sera house which.

There is a zone similar to the previous one and that not this delimited clearly because it includes/understands but of a colony but which podria to be located like the zone Rome-countess, where many of the foreigners settle which estudo or pleasure residiran in Mexico during some time, by work, is a colony like they coyoacan well designed, with some history and all the services. Only the two disadvantages that I observe are, firstly the price, are just as in coyoaca or even a little greater in the case of the colony countess. Second, the people who usually live frequently have tendency to snobbismo or the conservadurismo, not all by all means, but this encuetra with enough frequency…

Many other places exist where it is possible to be installed to live in the city, but by its access or lack of promotion usually they are outside the reach of the tourist and of the traveller, nevertheless but ahead we will comment but on these other options.

Attention, if this thinking about traveling to the city of Mexico and is a friendly person who wishes to know aspects daily the Mexican culture, if she is
a reliable, nonpretenciosa person and of preference humanist, can send to us an electronic mail and sometimes we have possibility of providing with accomodations friends, everything depends on the possibility of the space! . we did not accept facists, racists or violent people.


Interesting places to take a drink in the City of Mexico

That there is, I suppose, thousands of places in a city like this but voya to be giving to my suggestions thinking about his peculiarities, accessibility and security, and by all means good, as main criteria their orginalidad or its capacity would seran to show of particular maneral aspects of the Mexican culture.

Plaza Garibaldi. This is within the Historical Center, is a place where rtadicionalmente people are going to listen to mariachis, the well-known Mexican musicians. It is a medium seat where several groups of musicians, in addition to mariachis, there are northern jarochos and, they are touching according to the client requests music. Around the seat there are commerce that sells spirits and food, also a pair of “discs”. The prices are but high that those of the recommendable street and days are especialemnte then then Friday and Saturday there is but people. He is interesting for the traveller who uqiere to observe some guidelines of conduct of the Mexican society, specially aquelals which nocturnal public occur in places. Personally I believe that it is good at least once for visiting it during awhile, for taking a beer and for walking a little. Nevertheless several precautions must be taken, is a place of high risk, that is to say, when but at night interesting. Although there is police monitoring, the police in Mexico as we already know are extremely corrupt, so the visitor of his is not due to trust much presensia, although to be alert due to this. Usually there are assaults and robberies very frequently. There is much people treating to bind to foreigners and foreigners by sex, money or life expectancies, is in fact people who dedicate themselves almost of “professional” way to this practices, so precaution, although sure that deprendera of which this looking for in fact! , no. Precausion also conlos foods, is not recommendable to consume those that can constitute risgos because some with decomposition signs usually are sold.

On the other hand to arrive at the site it is necessary to walk all right on the sidewalk of the avenue Lazaro Cardenas, that is Central Axis, can be gone one walking from the central building of Post office to the seat, but there is to be careful specially a pair of blocks before arriving at the seat because it is a zone marginalized with much people in the streets, thus is not necessary to take valuable things economically. To the return it is necessary to reinforce the precaution and nonrecomendaria I to be in the seat beyond 11 or 12 at night.

Bar El Nivel. In the corner of Constitution aquare ( Zocalo), to a side of the archaeological zone of the "Templo Mayor". It shows the fame of being the first bar of the City of Mexico, and first in “aroma” diria I. It is worth the trouble to know it by evocacion a piece of history the city, but the service is very bad, always want to receive of but the meseros and are not of but cheap, that if he is dirty and maloliente.

Kloster bar. Republic of Cuba is in the street, to two or tress streets of the socle, just where it tourist divides to the safe part of the Historical Center and the zone where begins to be dangers, but it is even possible to be visited without greater problems, specially in the evening. This place is back of the Assembly of Representatives of the DF, that is something as well as the House of Representatives of the DF, and is a small, stinking site. .menos that the Level! but that has two enchantments that make me recommend it, the first beer is of but cheap of the city the 1 USD each one, and second usually has, mainly Fridays, a peculiar hybrid atmosphere, sometimes usually are people of press, or some artists, also a ball of travestis suddenly, and all this has contributed to make it an extremely common place between the people who look for “alternative” places, so perhaps she is worth the trouble to occur a return that way to know it. Eye, the baths are terrible.

In the street of Chile between Cuba and Donceles, there are some 2 places relatively interesting to have a beer, cheap places which are being transformed to offer space to the new people who is viviting the Historical Center, this is the mexican middle class. Anyway, it is still possible to find in those places remains of the old center folk which under the new policies for this part of the city, gradually are being expelled to other areas.Those places are ok for having a beer that can cost around 1 USD and last opened until 1 or 2 in the morning.

Other place which is kind of known by some young travellers to have a beer at night in the Center is the place in the building of the International Hostels chain, which is in Guatemala street, in back ( almost! ) of main Cathedral, since it is a youth hostels there are some times a nice atmosphere to chat and exchange information about Mexico, but of course can be very poor to offer a real feeling of mexican people, besides sometimes it can be annoying for the visitor the big quantity of blond chasers who go to that place precisely because the above mentioned reasons..


Around DF, interesting and easy places to visit in one day

Teotihuacan

There is a great amount of places around the DF to visit, as much if it is desired to know where the clasemedieros usually pass their holidays or week ends, like on the other hand, places of much interest for that wishes to urgar deep in the Mexican culture, are single question to have a little patience to locate the sites and to dedicate some days to him. or but if it can. in order to have a very good idea, better than the one than they have many inhabitants of this zone, of the historical and natural sites that surround to the City of Mexico. Next, not by archaeological, artistic, gastronomical, naturalistic order of importance if as I go away decided go several places, and they do not remember that my criterion to identify its importance is historical, ecological or cultural in general, I feel it, normally I do not pay attention much to places for “party”, but that insurance found it in some other Web…

Teotihuacan: The most important archaeological site, first of spectacular characteristics to which the visitor has access if she is arrived at Mexico by airplane and the City of Mexico. One is to about 50 kilometers of this city and to between one and average and two hours of way doing it by Meter and soon line bus, enough but fast s is made by automobile. The cost in the economic version (meter-bus) is of about 30 pesos of going and the same of return, 2 pesos of Meter and the others of the line bus. “Tours” are also many that announce in the inns or hotels of the city but I have listened and known of concrete people that the terrible service is very frequent that offers these, surely she must have some good agencies, but I have not known them, in short, I recommend to become by Meter and bus, is enough safe if goes away and returns to good hours (between the 9 in the morning and the 4 of afternoon preferredly) the general training that to my works to me is the following one: to arrive by Meter at the station of the Central Meter of the North that is in the yellow line that Mexican Institute of Petroleo runs of the Pantitlan station to the station, already in the central station of the North, leaves one the side that sees the bus-station, like is a line that runs at level of the ground peude to watch itself from before leaving of which side appears the terminal, is no confusion some. arriving front at the station and entering by the fore door, one is due to go towards the hand left and until practimaente the end of the counters, there, one or two counters before I complete leera the name of some small lines, one of them she says “Teotihuacan”, she asks themselves and immediately one young lady indicated as sonlos tickets, the cost must be around about 30 pesos simple. The buses leave every 20 minutes approximately, and there same they indicated the site where they were approached, that is around where ticket is bought. It is always necessary to ask but of once the personnel of the bus if he is ql that leaves IN the ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE, in the entrance door (in the pavement) because there are other buses. that normally they do not leave there. .que “they happen” through teotihuacan and if one is taken from them habra qu to ecaminar and peude to be enough in the lost one from the way for that it does not know it, so it is worth but to make sure that it leaves within the archaeological zone, and before lowering to ask where exactly. to per exactly! . the one was taken from return, because the same they pass several buses that can go towards the city but that other esatciones can arrives ra from the Meter or even not to arrive at station some, has ask until it is very sure we remember that a frequent characteristic of the Mexicans is the lack of exactitude for many things, for the information is one of them. The passage lasts but or enos one hour, when arriving is the entrance, there personal of the archaeological zone dara a ticket that must cost about a 35-40 Mexican pesos, about 4 dollars, there is no discount for students if they do not have the international credential, and that, sometimes not even this respects for the discount, another thing, Sundays the museums and archaeological zones are free, if, but for the Mexicans, so of all ways it is paid, although sometimes usually are flexible and it is possible to be acceded even being foreign without paying, but not in Teotihuacan and not frequently. There is guide who rents their service inside, I I better recommend to read a little before, to inquire and to make route one same. To take to a good water bottle and something to cover the head because the sun can be fuertisimo…

Tepotzotlan

“To only 40 kilometers of the city of Mexico, by the freeway to Querétaro, it is located Tepotzotlán, population that despite so large reduced his is recognized world-wide and constitutes a legitimate pride for the mexiquenses. Tepotzotlán lodges one of more important works of art of the virreinal period: the ex- convent of beginners of the Jesuits, with its beautiful temple dedicated to San Francisco Javier. In that space, today turned the National Museum of the Virreinato, masterpieces of the art of centuries xvi, xvii and xviii are exposed. The Jesuit noviciado one, founding on 1586, were declared national monument in 1933 and little later the care of the National Institute of Antropología had left and Historia.La facade of the temple, white quarry, has been called “the refulgente jewel of the crown of the Mexican churrigueresco art”, and it is characterized by the ornamental wealth of the statures with religious and artistic reasons. Inside the ex- convent there is a incalculable number of paintings, statures of wood, ivories, lacquers, orfebrería, religious ceramics, ornamentos, arms and armors of the colonial time. In addition to the temple of San Francisco Javier, the conventual set account with several chapels and claustros, or patios, and an orchard that transports to us to the past, to the atmosphere of the virreinato, and at the same time calls us to the withdrawal… “Taken from: www.mexicodesconocido.com



Acolman

“One of the most showy sets of the be in favor of its size and architectonic design. It was constructed by the agustinos friars between 1539 and 1560 following the strength style so characteristic of century XVI. Its facade, to the bottom of a great quadrangular vestibule, is made up of the cover of the temple finished off by one espadaña, an annexed open chapel and portería of the convent. The cover constitutes one of the most admirable examples of the plateresca architecture of the time, by the beauty as much of its columns and of the decorative details in friso and the arc of the door, like of the sculptures that finish off friso and that flank two musical angels, and of the window of the choir. The interior of the temple surprises by the height of its walls; the ship conserves rest of some baroque altarpieces of good invoice and in presbiterio interesting painting samples are noticed murals with images of agustinos saints, priests and Popes. The annexed convent account with two claustros, one small one of simple architecture, and main or claustro great, that exhibits a beautiful architecture of plateresco style with columns carved and finished off in the low part by stone spheres. In the spaces between the arcs of claustro under a series of stone engravings can be seen with allusive scenes the Passion of Christ and monogramas of Jesus and the Virgin. The walls of claustro high conserve excellent painting samples mural with scenes that remember the Passion and death of Christ. In this same level it is acceded to the opened chapel, in whose main wall a painting with the image of Santa Catherine of Alexandria is observed. “Taken from: www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx


Note: The convent this abrierto of Tuesday to Sunday of 10 in the morning to 5 of afternoon. The site is to about 40 kilometers to the northeast of the city of Mexico and it is possible to be arrived taking the bus that goes to towards teotihuacan…


Malinalco

“Malinalco is to the south of the State from Mexico to 70 km of the city of Toluca and to only two hours and average of route in automobile from the City of Mexico. It throughout enjoys the year a moderate and humid warm climate that it has attracted several residents of the Mexican capital which they have established his houses of weekend in this place. The history of Malinalco is extremely old and it goes back to preHispanic times to the salary populated by the cultures teotihuacana, tolteca, matlazintla and Aztec. Of these two last cultures, still a most important archaeological site, located lasts in the top of the Hill of the Ídolos to the west of the town. To this place the horsemen went eagle to make esoteric rites for their initiation like Aztec soldiers. In this archaeological site we can locate several constructions, being most excellent, the “House of the Eagles and the Tigers”, a pyramid - temple carved directly on the stone of the slope of the mountain. This space around whose door one is represented the mouth of a serpent, symbolized for the pre-Hispanic soldiers the doors of the Mictlan or infraworld, where after entering and making all a series of ceremonies and magical rituals, they returned to the world of the alive ones turned the legendary horsemen eagles of the mexicas armies. Underneath the Hill of the ídolos the town of Malinalco, same rests that was of first in being colonized by the Spaniards to its arrival to Mexico in century XV. Testimony of it is the chapel of Santa Monica and the Temple of the Divine Salvador, emphasizing this last one by the beautiful accomplishment of their annexed convent, exconvento of the Transfiguración, same that counts on a beautiful central patio flanked with arcs, following the traditional scheme of this type of constructions in the New Spain, but with all the ceilings and inner walls covered by beautiful murals to fresh with baroque reasons that they represented the more important vegetal species for the natives of the region, which constitutes one of the first artistic samples of the Mexican cultural mestization. Also in the entrance of of this magnificent enclosure one is a well-taken care of garden with own species of the place and beautiful stone walls, to which the time has given one slides dark that gives enhancement to the place…”
Taken from: www.ciudadmexico.com.mx/cercanias/malinalco.htm



Tepoztlan

Here ue is some information found in the network relative to loq can be seen in this place very near the DF: “THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE OF THE TEPOZTECO. Antigüo pre-Hispanic portable altar, dedicated to the God “Ometochtli Tepuztécatl”. One is in the top of the hill of he himself name and from this place great part of the landscape can be appreciated tepozteco. One says that here was ídolo Ometochtli, whose fragments can be appreciated in the Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art “Carlos Pellicer Camera” .EL EX-CONVENTO OF the NATIVIDAD. This old construction dates from Century XVI, fué construída under the orders of Dominican friars who got at Tepoztlán to evangelizar. In addition to which “Patrimony of the Humanity” has been declared, also it lodges to the “Museum and Center of Historical Documentation of Tepoztlán”. The ex--convent comprises of the Parish of the Natividad, in center of Tepoztlán.LA PARISH OF the NATIVIDAD. Old building that dates from Century XVI, is next to the Ex--convent and together they form an important building that excels in Tepoztlán. The main religious festividad of this church is carried out the 8 of September, together with the celebrations of the Challenge to the Tepozteco. The parish also has an ample vestibule in which are 4 “chapels you put” in each corner and a atrial cross whose ends finish in form of lily flower, emblem characteristic of the Order of the Dominicos.MUSEO Friars OF PRE-HISPANIC ART “CARLOS PELLICER”. This small but interesting museum arose thanks to the well-known poet and anthropologist tabasqueño from he himself name, that lived in Tepoztlán, being as well as it decided to donate his collection of archaeological pieces to be protected “Like arriving in bus from the DFDesde the City of Mexico, is necessary to take the bus (Pullman de Morelos or Cristóbal Columbus) in the Terminal from the South (Tasqueña Station of the System of Collective Transport Meter) the route is of 1 hour with 10 minutes approximately, although also a bus can be taken from the Red line Star, but it is necessary to descend in the collection house of Tepoztlán, to approach a taxi or to walk until the center of Tepoztlán.Desde Cuernavaca Morelos, the truck of the line of transports “Ometochtli” is approached, in the Market “Adolph Lopez Mateos”, who is to 5 blocks of the Socle and Palace of Government. The time of trip is of 45 minutes.
Taken from: www.tepoz.com.mx



Oxtotipac

San Nicholas Oxtoticpac: “A sum of surprises hopes that visits this singular architectonic work erected by the smaller friars. Most excellent claustro is his, since unlike that they impose by his height, this it is distinguished by his smallest dimensions, which makes very cosy. How the tiny size of claustro is justified. dwarfed friars or constructors? , the franciscana poverty? , shortage of materials or manual labor? , proportions of the pre-Hispanic platform where was constructed? , short space to lay the foundations in a cavernous subsoil. Anyway, this site was not a permanent house for the beggars, they only came from visit for the liturgical celebrations and a minimum space was sufficient to rest or to spend the night in necessary case. The Oxtotipac term means “on the cave”. “Cave” is derived from oztotl and of Icpac “it raises”. Formerly, the site was important by its mines of tezontle. Nicholas de Bari, santo patrono of temple, in addition to to be lawyer of children, druggists, sailors and young people of marriageable age among others, it was also of miners, as much that the Germans baptized to nickel with that name that derives from nickel and Nickolaus, that is to say, Nicholas.”
Taken from: http://www.mexicodesconocido.com



Xochicalco

Xochicalco, Morelos: “The archaeological zone of Xochicalco is located to the southwest of the state of Morelos, to 38 kilometers of the city of Cuernavaca. The wagon number 95 Mexico-Acapulco is taken until arriving at the deviation towards Alpuyeca, before finding the lagoon the Roundup it will find the state highway that will take to Xochicalco.quiere to say it “In the place of them house of the flowers”, is located on a hill set of low height, the main ones are the Warehouse, the Malinche and Xochicalco; this one last one, was made level to construct the most important buildings, the slopes had to be modified to allow the construction of houses and to conform a succession of terraces that prevented the free access to the site.” Taken from: www.cnca.gob.mx/cnca/inah/zonarq/xochica.html



Alchichica

Alchichica: “In this place is a great river basin formed by the drainings of the volcano of the Malinche. As well, a great water body forms here that resembles a lagoon. Its depth is not great and varies in agreement with the time, because the bottom, of limestone rock, absorbs the water frequently. The bordering landscape is formed by rocks and a semidesert climate vegetation, which confers to the place a strange appearance to him. About 10 km to the south, by the population of Chichicuautla, will be able to see other two small lagoons: Preciosa and Quechulac; both are known like Alapascos, that is lagoons formed from a volcanic cone. Lava which they contained thousand or million ago years reached an underground water level and exploded, forming a great flooded crater. Some ajalapascos do not have bottom and their waters can contain great concentrations of salts and minerals. One is to 109 km to the northeast of the city of Puebla, by the federal highway of quota núm.150 D. Deviation to the left by the highway núm. 140 to Perote. ”
Original note: www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx

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SECURITY

Police and delinquency

In Mexico in the last decades, the phenomenon of corruption has penetrated deeply into the cultural structure unfortunately, so it is not more an isolated fact, and of course is not like politicians say, only some dark in the goverment administration. The administration is based in corruption in all its levels, specially in the highest and this is very easy to observe at any moment. Actuallly corruption int he high spheres of power is has become a tendency in the world, but in the case of Mexico has reached incredible levels. In this sense, the police, the army and other control corps are part of the corruption system so this increases the levels of violence in the country, specially in cities like DF since delincuency is formed by police groups, people who steal, assault, kidnap, etc. and all the people around the power who take advantage of their power privilages, so honest people is in danger against all others. This doesn`t mean necessarily that it is impossible to visit Mexico and necessarily someone will be robbed, no true if that visitor bears in mind information like this and take certain basic cautions, because there is something curious about violence in Mexico, usually the subjects to be assaulted are mexicans, locals, not foreigners, specially if they come from USA, Canada and Europe, why?? well, because thieves, the violent ones not the ones who take silently your wallit, and cops know that can become a problem if embassies are involved, so they prefer not get in troubles.

Anyway, my advice is that the least you are can be involved in issues related to pollice the better, of course when necessary the traveller can ask for police to assit but be cautious about them, sometimes you can find honest and helpful people among them, but as a rule they will want to make some profits from you..

Racism in Mexico

Usually when people talk about racism one thinks inthe countries that CNN shows with balck people fighting against bad white ones.. well, that is tv. In the real world there are many points where racism is a constant int he daily life, even, i would say that in many more countries that we think the racism is a cotidiane practices, in diverse way, some times very subtle. Well, in Mexico the racism is something very strong, it is in almost all levels of the social organization, racism agains who?, mostly against indian groups, indian individuals, you caould ask, how come if Mexico is a half indian nation!? yes, this is part of the mexican contradictions, precisely because indianity is in the roots of the mexican culture most of people every day acts in a racsit way against that. Stupid? sure, it is. the word "indio".. the spanish word for indian..is used as terrible unsult in most of the country, if somebody mentions that other person has certain indian characteristics this is taken as something ofensive. Of course int he oficial discurse people don´t accept it, even they say they are proud about their culture but of cuorse they simply lie, they are trying to cheap people, including themselves, who to realize about this? , easy, observing adn paying attentio to all the expressions they use nthe daily life, out of record, observing the actions against people who is indian, and finally observing th treat the entire mestize country gives to indian groups, they are abused permanently.

In this sense, being a blod woman or man is an advantage in Mexico in most of times, specially in besides the color that person is really a foreigner, sounds like something left in the past? sounds like that but it is absolutly true. Some travellers take advantage of this, other feel ashamed, well, but it is a reality.

This way, the treatment to "white" foreigners is peculiar, also related to sexism in the case of girls, and the natural and universal phenomenon of "sexual exotism" and finally with idea of money, the travellers can have an increadible "appeal" in Mexico, so the blonds girls will find a dozen of pretenders each block and depending of the porpuses of the trip it can become from a pleasant experience to the most annoying fact. Men are treated similar but since mexican women are not so open yet, they will received a bit less offers. If it is what you are looking for, then enjoy but take care, blond chasers can become rude when alcohol or drugs apprear because most of them has the idea blond girls are very easy sexually. If you are not looking for it, then take cautions.

DISEASES AND PROBLEMS OF HEALTH

Malaria in Mexico

Malaria is not a medical issue for the traveller today in Mexico, the points which usually can generate the malaria alarma are in calm right now, there are not reports of problems with the disease by now, anyway soon i will publish a map with the zones of the malaria potencial problem.


AIDS in Mexico

The situation of AIDS in Mexico is not as bad as in other countries of the continent, actually, Mexico ocoppies the place 77 in the world and the 23 in the american continent, this related to the number of population infected. In the other side, according to international reports, it seems than the programs of prevention in the country have worked and the advance of the diseasy has been controlled. They speak about of 150, 000 people infected in the whole country.

The two zones of greater incidence of VIH in Mexico are by the number of infected people, first the DF by the amount of people who inhabit it, and after that with an alarming incidenc of cases the zones of the border with the United States, especially the area of California, Baja California in the Mexican case, Tijuana, Mexinally, etc. Some interesting data on this sense:

http://www2.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=141221&tabla=nacion

- DAY OF DEADS IN MEXICO

ESPAÑOL
The general concept of the celebration

The day of deads in Mexico ( Dia de los muertos) has very particular characteristics, and simultaneously it has diversity in itself depending on the region where this celebration is observed, because it is mainly this: a celebration and not only a commemoration as usually it assumes from other cultures. Although in Mexico as in other places in the world the celebration of the Halloween influences every year more and more the celebration of 1 and 2 of November, luckyly some traditions strongly rooted still being realized with a well conserved body of believes and practices in a blend of different traditions but mostly with elements taken from catholicism and from distinct prehispanic cultures.

In the general aspect, the mexican tradition marks the begining of november the first and november the second as the period while the celebration takes places, but there are certain exceptions. Also in this line, the first day celebration is aimed to the small deads, like chindren and the second day for adults.

As the result of the diversity of the mexican country composition, the celebration varies but most of time keeps certain elemements as a constant, for example, we can find always, the candies, many of them often with skeleton characteristics, skulls made with sugar by instance. Bread, there is actually a special and famous "pan de muertos", deads´bread, which has figures of bones in a bally form of a sweet bread like a big bun. Traditional food, flowers, speciall the one called "cempazuchitl", with all the possible variants in its name, it is a yellowish-orange colored flowers which only appears in this season of the year. Waxes, candles, drinks, tamales, singing, praying, these are some of the elements tha the observer can distiguish inthe tradition.

The celebration by states

Chiapas. In Chiapa de Corzo, the relatives are used to go to cementery to clean and fix up the tumbs as well to carry flowers and spend the day with their ancestors. In the sones of the "altos" which means the highlands, the celebration have more indian color, they mount "ofrendas" and prepare special meals.

Michoacan, in the Lake of Patzcuaro and in the island of Janitzio, as well as in the Zirahuen lake, also in Michoacan. In this cases the places rea become very turistical with the disadvantages this lead for the serious observer but still being an option to see the rituals about.

In Janitzio, the people goes to the holyfield n the first minutes of november the 1st to install "ofrendas", kind of installations with lot of magic and ordinary things to offer the souls who come to visit, food, drinks, flowers and they sing in "tarasco" a native language of the region.

In other part of the state of Michoacan, in the mazahua zone ( ethical name) happen something very beautiful and magic, the people have mixed with time the belief of the deads day and the arrival of millon of butterflies, the famous migrating "monarca", and then they, the folk of the place have taken them as messegers of divinity, offering to the winged travellers foods, singings and colorful things.

Morelos. In this state there are many small towns which make celebrations, but in particular there is a village called Totoloapan, wich has a peculiar way to celebrate. This place is located some 60 kilometers to the north-east of Cuernavaca the famous turistical place. There the celebration begins in october the 28th, where are received the deads which died in vilent circumstances, they called the day of the "killed", then the other two days of celebration are the 1 and 2 of nomvember, the first for children and the second one for adults.The day of "tianguis", special street market for food before to the celebrations, such market modifies its merchadise and offer lot of things adecuated for receiving dead relatives, so one can find waxes, "copal" which is a natural incense taken from trees resine, special breads, lot of fruts, flowers although in the ase of this town, they don`t use cempazuchitl but other types. The time to expect the arrival of dead relatives is between 12 and 3 in the morning, and at the nest day there are other activities which involve most of the town people.


Oaxaca, in diverse regions of Oaxaca are done celebrations, colorful ones, althou in this zones has the tradition to extend the "day of deads" untill about a week, so it is mucuh longer.

In the Mixe region ( ethnical name) peope are used to prepare food like "mole" a delicious mixation of seeds, chilis and chocolate and drink mezcal, spirit made with agave, similar to tequila but usually stronger and go to the tumbs to clean them and make crosses with ash on the ground.

Mexico City. Mixquic is probably the most famous place to visit in the capital city to observe the tradition of these days, but unfortunately in my last visits to the places, i could notice that the sales are destroying a big part of the rituals, now many things are aimed to get some money from turists. But well, anyway it is still an option to see some colorful thigs about it. It is suppoed, according with investigations, that atr least the tradition in Misquic has some 500 years old, but probably more. Anyway in the zone where Misquic is, Tlahuac, there are other villages with also interesting celebrations.

In the other hand, is very interesting visiting the markets like Jamaica, Merced, De las Flores, Sonora, the days before the celebration since they turn incredible colorful and lot of funny stuff, notwithstanding, be prepared to suffer from high traffic those days and don´t take valuable things with you since there are lot of thieves around. Anyway is possible going to take a look and enjoy.

Tabasco. Inside the chontal tradition ( ethnical name ) the celebration begins nine days before, with the elaboration of diverse meals and drinks, so everything starts with the preparation of the "guarapo" a brewed preparation made with chopped and toasted corn mixed with honey and water, the it is left to fermentate along the nine days. While, and in the second place, begins the preparation of the candies that are done with different materials like"camote" ( sweet potato) , cacao, roasted banana, pinol and yuca. Two "ofrendas" are organized, the first with the candies and "pozol" .. other corn drink, and the second with food and "guarapo".

Tlaxcala, There are interesting celebrations in towns like Ixtenco and Tepitzintla, where they cover tumbs with sand and flowers, although there are reporst that have been some modifications.

San Luis Potosi, it seems of great interest the celebration in the area of the Huasteca, where the arcs play an important role in the artifices of the celebration.

In the zone of "Huasteca" which extends to states of San luis Potosi, Veracruz and Hidalgo, the celebration is very interesting, it is called ""Xantolo", and it involves more elements like the recent harvest of corn so there are many reasons to be happy those days. Actually the preparation starts with the first "ofrendas" which can be installed as early as september 29th, day of San Miguel, and october the 18th day of San Lucas. The last day of october is prepare "white food" this is without chili and alcohol for the little deads, which is to say children who died. But at the noon of the first day of november starts the celebration of big deads where oen ca finds lot of meals, alcohol, and music, the bands of "guapango" or son of huasteca ( which are called "outside musicians" since there are "inside musicians" which play in the ceremonies inside the churche or other sacred places, this inside musicians play only wind music) play along all the time, until november the 3rd which is the "temporary" finishing, because some special dancers covered with masks and funny clothing and who have been dancing in the town streets along the celebration days, finally take off their masks showing their real personality in november the 29th in the final act of the celebration.

Hidalgo. like in the state of San Luis Potosi, the zone of the Huasteca seems to offer interesting scenes of the celebration.

Yucatan. Se celebra el "Hanal Pixan" que es la comida de los muertos, no se trata solamente de una comida, si no que esta se converte en el eje de la celebracion a la visita de los ancestros. Esta tradicion esta profunadamente arraigada en la cultura rural y aun en la de algunas ciudades.

More about day of deads in Mexico

In the year 2003 the celebration of deads in Mexico was names Inmaterial patrimony of humanity by UNESCO, this is very important to try to preserve the tradition of such a special practice.

Calaveras ( skulls)

Calaveras is the name for the verses which are composed in the days before, along and after the day of deads, they are ironical verses about famous people usually although can be made for friends or family. Part of the origine of this tradition appears with the famous mexican angraver Guadalupe Posada, who made famous the graphic representation of bony personages, all those figures about people drawn like skeletons, int he same time that artis made "calaveras" written with sarcastic and ironical humor.

Papel picado ( figures of paper )

They represent usually skeleton figures which are designed on chine paper, that kind of paper which is very thin and colored, they are cut and then used as table covers, backgrounds for "ofrendas" or simply to decore certain places those days.

Entierritos ( little burials )

They are made for children mostly, as representations of funerals and burials containing widows, relatives, tumbs, crosses, etc, all the elements made with paper, ceramic, straws, etc. They are prepared in little paper strips.