| About four hours northwest of Mexico City, a mile | | | | video tape or digital space available to record Mario's |
| above sea level, is a quaint collection of 64 city blocks | | | | every sentence! |
| surrounded by a typical Mexican town: roosters, | | | | Summary |
| noisy trucks, music and church bells peeling throughout | | | | Many call this the "heart of Mexico" -- with good |
| the day. The air is dry, the temperature hits 70 | | | | reason. The conspirators who plotted to overthrow |
| degrees F every day (it might start near freezing, but it | | | | the rulers of the country did their planning in this area. |
| warms up in the winter; in July you’ll always have a | | | | Retirees from other countries (mostly the USA) make |
| cool breeze in the evening) and 16,000 gringos from | | | | up one-sixth of the central city's population (around |
| north of the border make up 16 percent of the town. | | | | 80,000). The total metropolitan area is around |
| Named for a patriot who helped in the fight for | | | | 115,000. You can live close to the suburban lifestyle in |
| liberation in 1810, the town is protected from | | | | the USA (drive to a mall and place groceries in a car, |
| development by strict rules that keep the exteriors of | | | | drive home into a garage and walk 50 feet to a |
| the homes looking the way it did a hundred years ago. | | | | refrigerator). You can also live like people do in |
| Have you heard enough to want to know how to | | | | Venice, without a car and shopping at a local market. |
| spend a vacation here? | | | | Restaurants: lunch for two under $10 |
| The FOUR DAY Schedule (make one of these days | | | | Dinner for two under $28 at Pegaso in Centro (near |
| on TUESDAY for the market) | | | | the Jardin). |
| Day 1 -- arrive, get picked up byMario, who talks for an | | | | What to do |
| hour about the culture. Walk into town and get a | | | | You can take art courses at the Instituto Allende or |
| copy of ATENCION. Find an activity (such as talking | | | | look at real estate for sale in the “Golden |
| with locals on Tues. and Thurs 5-6:30 pm) | | | | corridor” north of the city. You could take a tour |
| Dinner: San Francisco Cafe, Jardin | | | | on the trolley bus or take a cooking class and learn |
| Day 2 -- MARKET DAY Tuesday | | | | some local recipes. You could even give free English |
| Look for "Mesa de Plata" (the silver table) and look for | | | | lessons at the local school – get to meet some of |
| the silver haired guy. LUNCH: El Buen Cafe | | | | the locals while you are there. It's better than hanging |
| Afternoon: real estate tour with Gaby Cabello Rivas or | | | | out at an Internet Cafe. Get to know the locals at |
| one of Gaby's colleagues. Email her at Dinner: | | | | the Public Library (biblioteca publica). |
| Pegaso | | | | GETTING THERE |
| Day 3 -- Tour of the City with Mario. | | | | You can fly into Mexico City and then to a nearby city |
| He will show you the parts that a local knows, such as | | | | (Queretaro QTO or Leon BJX). |
| a metalworking shop in a residential area -- noisy at 10 | | | | Or you can fly to Houston and then south to BJX or |
| am, quiet by 5 pm, providing employment for | | | | QTO. Before you fly, reserve a driver to pick you up |
| neighbors. Clever! | | | | -- Call Angelica tours at 52 415 152 6305 and ask |
| Afternoon: walk to Instituto Allende, meet Keith Keller | | | | for Mario. |
| at the Escuela of painting and drawing -- if you sign up | | | | Where to Stay |
| for a class, you can drop in during daylight hours to | | | | We tried Hacienda de las Flores. Delightful location, |
| practice. | | | | sweet dog (the gordita Coquette) and friendly staff. |
| Dinner: Cha Cha Cha for Mexican delights, or try | | | | Ask for the TV room and you'll be able to catch the |
| 10-10-Pie (stay on your feet wiht this food) -- delicious | | | | morning shows on satellite: NBC, ABC and CBS, plus |
| fruit salad and "batidas" (smoothies) | | | | CNN. Rooms have basic cable. Delicious eggs for |
| Some people recommend Mama Mia (music) | | | | breakfast. |
| Day 4 -- ADVENTURE $160US per person, early | | | | Helpful Links |
| morning hot-air balloon ride, meet outside Recreo 68 at | | | | AngelicaTours.com, ask for MarioTransportation from |
| 6:30 a.m. | | | | the airport |
| After breakfast: Walk through the Artisans Market. | | | | Francisco Marquez #33 |
| Lunch at Bugambila ($28, pricey but romantic). | | | | Col. Independencia |
| Tour at 3 pm with Jilda on the 2-hour tour bus (9 to 9, | | | | C.P.37732 |
| every two hours from Juarez Street). You can write | | | | Office: (415) 1526305 |
| to her and practice Spanish (she wants to practice | | | | Mobile: 4151535067 |
| English) at JIlda ZAvala Tour guide | | | | Toll free number: 1.877.446.0721 |
| Snack: San Agustin, Mesones, owned by Margarita, a | | | | TIPS |
| TV and ilm star who lives in Mexico City. | | | | Get a good map. |
| Dinner: 10-10-Pie, El Buen Cafe or Pegaso | | | | Take the tour of the city with Mario (AngelicaTours. |
| Day 5 -- Time to leave. Call Mario. Keep lots of | | | | |