Colonial Cities This section of the website is last because the Colonial Cities require the most effort on the part of Mexico's tourists. Most people in the beach resorts along the coasts cater to tourists and speak English, and some even accept dollars in payment. The interior cities in the mountains however, are perfectly viable (and extremely beautiful) cities in their own right and accept regular tourism as just an everyday reality in their city. However, visiting one of these cities will feel more like visiting a city in Europe than it will going to a Mexican beach--just be prepared! The reason, of course, is the Spanish colonial influence in the art and architecture, layout of the streets and markets, and the domination of the Catholic religion. But add in nearly perfect weather year-round, mountain vistas, and a rich and varied culture, and you truly have the makings of wonderful vacation! Boning up ahead of time on the language, the history, the native cultures, all will enhance your enjoyment of these wonderful cities. MEXICO CITY Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, yet remains a fascinating place to explore and enjoy. And it can be pretty darn romantic in places! Second only to London in the number of museums and replete with art galleries, restaurants, clubs and shopping, there is an energy and youthful vigor in the city that is palpable and undeniable. There are also several world-class tourist destinations inside and nearby the city, such as the famous pyramids of Teotihuacan and the floating gardens of Xochimilco. Check out the ruins of the ancient Aztec city right beneath the enormous main city square! GUADALAJARA Guadalajara is Mexico's second city of about 3 million people and the capital of Jalisco state. It is the birthplace of mariachi music and ground zero for the production of tequila. There is even a tourist train that can take you to the town of Tequila, with free tastings on tours of factories in case you're interested! Arts and crafts rule the day in the nearby villages of Tlaquepaque and Tonala, and downtown there is a wide variety of historic churches, museums, and government buildings to tour--overall a very approachable city. OAXACA Oaxaca is the state capital of the state of the same name (pronounced Wah-HA-Cah) and it lies in the confluence of several mountain valleys deep in the southeastern part of Mexico, approximately five hours by bus or car from Mexico City. The isolation of those mountains has meant less historic encroachment of the mainstream Spanish and then mainstream Mexican culture and money, so Oaxaca remains one of the poorest, but also one of the culturally richest states in the nation. There are no fewer than 16 indigenous languages still spoken around the state and for many of those people Spanish is their second language, if they speak it at all. In the last several years there has been a resurgence in pride among the various peoples and the federal and state governments have begun promoting teaching and speaking their languages in schools. The popular Guelaguetza festival each July rounds up dancers and other representatives of each of the peoples to put on elaborate shows in a local theater in Oaxaca City. The cultural richness extends to the amazing regional cuisine of Oaxaca, said by many to be the best food in the entire country, and can be exhibited in the artisanry in many of the nearby villages out from the city, from pottery to tinwork to carpets to elaborate and fanciful wood carvings. PUEBLA Puebla, Mexico's fourth largest city, is just over an hour outside of Mexico City to the east and also lays claim to some of the best food in the country. It is the source of "chiles en nogada," a famous and patriotic dish because it includes the three colors of the Mexican flag, red, white, and green, as well as mole poblano, another delicious and well-known dish. Puebla's downtown area features numerous historic buildings and divine architecture, and is also one of the main producers of the famous Talavera pottery, with the cobalt-blue glazes. Because of its proximity to Mexico City, it can easily be combined with a trip to that city. SAN MIGUEL de ALLENDE San Miguel is the smallest of all the Colonial Cities, but because of that and its relative isolation, has remained one of the most intact and well-preserved cities in the entire country from its founding in the mid-1500s by Spanish priests. Because it was in the silver-mining country way back when, there was a lot of money in town and numerous astounding houses, churches, and other public buildings got built, and while many deteriorated over the centuries, the majority have now been renovated and turned into private homes, boutique hotels, smart shops and restaurants. After World War II, San Miguel first became a haven for military veterans and then starving artists, and more recently there has been an influx of international retirees. While the city barely has 100,000 total residents, at least 10,000 of them are from abroad, bringing in a very worldly dynamic into an otherwise sleepy Mexican town. Definitely worth a visit!

Mar de la Sonda #16, Colonia Popotla, Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico, D.F. 11400   (55) 5341-4337

110 Jean Marie Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 94568 (415) 236-1650