Have you ever vacationed in a colonial Mexican city?

[XNASA]

And I don't mean Cozumel. Or TJ.

Recommendations?

[UTUSN]

1. & if not, why not? n/t

[no name no slogan]

2. Puerta Vallarta

Lots of 1600s-era architecture, and also the setting for the film "Night of the Iguana". The beaches are great, and it's not too big a meat market-- unless you're a gay guy. Beatiful ocean sunsets, excellent views from the hills, and excellent food, too. And still relatively affordable.

[XNASA]

5. It seems as though there are many packages available.......

..to Puerta Vallarta.

And apparently many packages available 'in' Puerta Vallerta as well.

Thanks.

[Zomby Woof]

3. Lived in one for a summer

Morelia, Michoacan. It was once called Vallodolid until 1820, when Mexico fought Spain for its independence. Vallodolid was once the capital of Mexico when it was a colony. The architecture is classic colonial Mexico, very reminiscent of Spain in the 1600's and after. One of the cool features is the Roman-style aqueduct built around the city. It not only was used back then, but was also built to taunt Spain by reminding them of their long ago domination by the Roman Empire.

I highly recommened Guanajuato, the capital of the state by the same name. Birthplace of Diego Rivera, and nestled on a hillside... quite a colorful little town.

[XNASA]

6. I'll check into it. Thanks.

Sounds remote. How's the ingress and egress, tourist wise?

[Zomby Woof]

13. It isn't too remote

By bus, about 4 hours west of Mexico City. As for tourists, it doesn't have many, but there are students (which is why I lived there), and some American retirees. But the American presence isn't saturated, and Morelia is the gateway for lots of accessible side trips, such as Patzcuaro and Uruapan.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[radwriter0555]

10. HEY, there's a Villadolid in the Yucatan too.

LOVE that place. They sound identical.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. Oooo, are you and Mrs. XNASA thinking of this?

That sounds just lovely. I can imagine the tans and relaxed smiles on both your faces.

[XNASA]

7. Oh yes.

It's good to go on a February getaway. Someplace warm, with great food.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Merida.

Some very lovely colonial architecture.

[radwriter0555]

9. Merida, Campeche, LOVELY, beautiful, old, glorious Colonial Mexican

Cities.

Campeche is delightful, Merida is stunning. The even older, but far smaller city of Villadolid is a delight to explore, and even more so, the back roads between these cities, not the highway, will just enchant you with the ancient Mayan villages still thriving and living their simples lives.

Merida is home to the oldest cathedral in the Americas, and the tombs in the church floors and walls are testement.

[XNASA]

12. That sounds fascinating. Thanks.

We weren't looking at the Yucatan. We wanted to take in some mountains, but I'll check it out. Mayans are cool.

[radwriter0555]

20. The Mayans are lovely people, and their cuisine is wonderful too. The

women are so beautiful. The old villages that the main roads go through are so pretty and simple. Campeche is a fun little city, it's originally an old pirates port. It's a nice adventure to rent a house and take some time to explore the area. The drive from one coast to the other isn't long at all and to see Chi chinitza and Coba is well, well worth it.

This site, although a real estate site, gives you a really good idea of that specific area. Whenever I'm missing the Yucatan, I visit this site to get sentimental.

http://www.mexintl.com/

and look at this gem...

and this shot...

and finally, this statement that is what colonial mexico was all about....

[Momgonepostal]

11. I've been to Guanajuato and...

San Miguel de Allende. I loved Guanajuato, and would love to go back!

[Texasgal]

14. I am going there this summer!!!

Guanajuato. I sthere anything I should know? I hear it is beautiful!

[Zomby Woof]

16. Check out their open-air market

And if you like silver, you can get loads of it cheap from the dealers next to the mines. :-)

Make sure you see the University of Guanajuato. Not only is the architecture beautiful, but on the same street as the main entrance is the birthplace of the great leftist artist Diego Rivera.

It's a neat town. :-)

[Texasgal]

17. Thank you Zomby!

I simply cannot wait to go!

[Momgonepostal]

23. It IS really beautiful!

As far as what you should know, just read up on it before you go, so you don't miss anything! That's the mistake I made. My husband had an internship in nearby Celaya one summer and I went down to visit him, but didn't really know much about the history of the area before I got there. I think I would have appreciated the experience more if I'd known more before hand. Live and learn.

Zomby made some good suggestions...the markets are big, because of the mining there, they sell also lots of jewelry and other metal items. I bought some copper candle sticks for a gift, and wish I'd bought more copper items, because there was quite a lot, and it's lovely, but not really that popular here. Artist Diego Rivera's childhood home is there and is now a museum. The mummy museum is morbid as heck, but IMO worth seeing just because it's so weird.

I remember wishing I'd had a camera that took panoramic shots because standing on hill over looking the city, it was just soooo beautiful, but my regular ole camera just couldn't do it justice. If I had it to do over again, I'd have bought a disposable one that takes panoramic pics.

Have fun!

[Texasgal]

25. Thank you so much!!!

I have distant relatives that were from there, so we are going to learn some of our "past".

Thanks for the pointers. I am so excited!!

[Zomby Woof]

15. Guanajuato has that vibe, eh?

The silver mines, the markets, and the ancient feel of the place. Plus, that creepy/weird mummy museum. :rofl:

:hi: momgonepostal

[Momgonepostal]

22. That's a great way to word it...

I liked the feel of the city...

In addition to the things you mentioned, I like all the underground streets. Very different, but cool.

The mummy museum was a trip! It seems disrespectful of the dead to display them like that, but it was fascinating, nonetheless.

Mexico is such an interesting place and so incredibly cheap, at least in the interior. We were there in 1994 when the exchange rate was still about 3 pesos for a dollar, and I understand it's even more favorable for Americans now.

Hi, back at ya! :-)

[supernova]

18. San Miguel de Allende

If you want to get a glimpse of San Miguel de Allende, watch Once Upon A Time In Mexico. That movie was filmed there.

All these places sound beautiful. *sigh*

[RebelOne]

19. Well, I don't know if you would consider them colonial,

but I have vacationed in Acapulco and Mexico City.

[Bridget Burke]

21. Unfortunately, no.

But I've been to Guadalajara--a big city with a colonial heart. Here's an interesting discussion of Colonial Mexico--beginning with La Ciudad.

http://travel.independent.co.uk/americas/article327847.ece

Some go to Mexico for the sun & beaches. But the temperate climate of the mountainous heart of the country appeals to this Texan more. Plus the art, the shopping, etc.

[mike_c]

24. San Cristobel de las Casas and Merida are my favorites...

...especially San Cristobel in Chiapas. The highlands are beautiful.