Hotel Napoles San Luis Potosí

... 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 ...

... 12 at precisely 4:30 (perfect timing -just to fully confirm the extent of my smoothness!) After not tipping the taxi driver, I rang the bell and was met at the front gate that led into the garden by Jorge (hor-hay), who led me to the house who introduced me to his parents and my hosts, Gay (guy - short for Abigail),her husband, Armando, and Jorge's girlfriend, Sara. Jorge carried my bag up the delicate, winding,metal staircase and Sara showed me to my room.<br><br><br>

... good sidewalks which is not the norm in Mexico - there is no problem walking around in the center at night as there are an abundance of people in the streets Reasons Not to Choose San Luis Potosi as Your Destination for the Winter Months - cool, night-time winter temperatures as the city is located on the central plain at 6,000 feet - may be less comfortable at night as heating is non existent or only available at a premium price ...

... about 400,000 Altitude: around 6,000 feet State: San Luis Potosi (same name as city) Annual average temperatures: maximum 26 - minimal 10.7 degrees centigrade --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- Star power is hard to beat and both San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato have star power. The same cannot be said for San Luis Potosi. San Luis Potosi is a much bigger city than either of San Miguel or ...

... de voyage bien réussie. Encore une fois, tout s'est passé à l'extérieur sous un soleil radieux. Pour ceux qui veulent nous suivre sur une carte, voici le trajet de ces 2 premières étapes. Nous avons traversé la frontière à la ville de Phar aux USA pour s'arrêter pour la première nuit dans la ville de Reynosa au Mexique. Nous avons ensuite suivi la route 40 pour contourner la grosse ville de Monterrey et ensuite suivre la route 57 vers le sud pour passer la 2e nuit dans les environs de San Luis Potosi.

... part of the history. I had hoped to visit a museum of Mexican masks but found that it was closed for renovations. We stopped for coffee in a cafe with big, over-stuffed chairs where it was nice to linger and people-watch for awhile. We went back to the hotel briefly before setting out for the Church of St. Francis. I had earlier peeked into the Church of St. Carmen, where there is a tremendous amount of gilding on the main altar ...

... and the hotel has at least one restaurant and an unusually emerald green pool. Of course, there is A/C, cable and good drinking water. There is an interior parking garage. In the early evening, we took a walk and ate at a cafe a few blocks away. Some of this area is blocked off to traffic, which makes walking a pleasure. I enjoyed strolling the plazas around us- and we saw a beautiful rainbow from our room!

... etc. We also got so see a group of brightly coloured and decorated voladores, a very pagan, wicker man type ancient ceremony from Vera Cruz from the olmecs. A group of five men all dressed up dance around to a weird strange pipe and drum around a huge pole that goes up to the sky like a massiiiiiive may pole and then they stop and one by one they climb up the pole until you can hardly see them, then the last one climbs up to the top and sits in the middle of the pole they are on a ...

A short day trip. Delores Hidalgo is the home of the church from which on September 16, 1810 padre Miguel Hedalgo y Costilla issued the Grito de la Independencia spawning the Mexican Independence movement. Subsequently excommunicated and eventually beheaded, Hidalgo is a national hero for whom countless streets & plazas are named throughout the country. Despite its' historical significance, the town ...

... 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.