Hotel Casa Cayala Queretaro

... to read, as well as a local discussion group, and another gathering for practising my (minimal) Spanish. The latter wasn't much fun as we all sat around a big table and could only speak to the people near to us - and my people (from Ontario) knew even less Spanish than I did. Also, I realised that I really needed to hit the books if I wanted to have even an idea of some basic vocab and grammar.<br><br>The weather that had been so bitterly cold at first, became ...

... roja torta (a tamale with red chili and cheese put inside bread!) and some delicious chocolate atole. I stood around with other people and ate my warm breakfast and watched as vendors put up their wares in their market stalls.<br><br>I headed over to the school and received a warm welcome from the staff before my first lesson. I then headed into the room named "Chiapas" (which was decorated with beautiful tapestries from the state of Chiapas ...

... Centro from the taxi booth in the bus station and then headed outside to the taxi line. My taxi driver's name was Viktor and despite the fact that I couldn't speak much Spanish, he happily chatted with me and pointed out various sites around Queretaro. From what I had read, El Centro, is a a protected World Heritage Site, and as we drove through the town, I admired the colorful facades of several of the houses ...

... coté du resto "Los compadres"), les concerts en plein air du dimanche sur les nombreuses places de la ville...<br><br>Très peu de touristes étrangers car elle n'apparait pas tellement dans les guides touristiques (très injustement mais tant mieux pour nous finalement)<br><br>Une excelente journée sous un ciel on ne peut plus bleu et une chaleur accablante...

... t had a single room with fan & it's really starting to warm up - deliberately left behind one pair of trousers the other day! - I know most of these places are 1500 - 2000m, with little humidity, but still gets sticky with no breeze and hideous synthetic sheets & pillowcases (0% cotton). I don't know how they managed to breed these mossies as very little rain - sheer maliciousness I think!

... br>Nous passons donc toute la journée à nous ballader dans les ruelles et les nombreuses places, tout en dégustant les spécialités locales. Le soir nous avons la chance d'assister à une "estudiantina", des groupes folkloriques qui se promènent dans la rue en chantant des airs typiques et en dansant. (regardez les vidéos). <br><br>Nous terminons par une soirée arrosée à la tequila...<br>

... rates were 220, 315, 365, + 490 Peso for one, two, three or four persons. <br><br>Hotel Meson de la Merced 16 de Septiembre No.95 Ote, Tel: 01(442)214-1498, www.hotellamerced.com . This fine hotel is housed in a charming colonial building and had knowledgeable staff running the place. <br><br>Hotel Plaza Juarez No.23 Nto, Tel: 01 (442) 212-1138, www ...

Ah, the cacophony of Mexico! It is Saturday night, the 20th of January, and we are in Peña de Bernal, or Bernal for short, a picture postcard tourist town (mostly Mexican tourists, as it has not yet been discovered by foreign travelers in large numbers), perched on the edge of the desert near the beautiful city of Querétaro. Tonight a large group of dancers dressed as Indian warriors ...

... is the cheapest. Queretaro also boasts a Costco, Sams Club and major shopping centers, etc. so it is a favorite destination for middle class SMA residents and ex pats for major shopping but that requires a car. If your Spanish is not that strong, you will probably get more out of an organized tour that often includes stops at Bernal or Atotonilco as well. The local tours once you are there are all in Spanish but there are a couple of nice small museums as well.

... back were more moderate drivers than our previous one. I didn't have to once gasp or close my eyes. The desk clerk here at the resort advised us to visit a church that he considers a true gem. The Templo of Santa Rosa de Viterbo has the "most beautiful retables of the city", he said. It was amazing, one of those churches with walls of carvings covered with gold leaf. A lady in the church offered to show us around, pointing out many ...