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cgage · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Memphis

I'm a public school ESL teacher going to mexico for first time. I have a family to tutor for room and board in Zacatecas this Summer. I'm interested in looking for places in that general area of Mex. to visit. I'm looking for high elevations that don't get real hot, like San Miguel de Allende. I understand that hotels are available for $20US a night in many areas. ALso info about Pacific coast towns.
I've read on this sight that there is some theft.
I've spent Christmas in Europe and everything is shut down - nothing to do. Is it like that in Mex December?
I speak some Spanish and traveled for years in Europe so not inexperienced traveler.
Thanks very much for any info.

delacosta · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 325 Location: zipolte beach

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

Zacatecas is kind of out in the middle of nowhere. It is a good four hours by bus to another sizeable city and a long way to either coast. Jerez and La Quemada are OK for a day trip, but Lonely Planet makes them sound better than they really are. There are a few building with some unusual architecture in Jerez, but I think they would be hard to find and hard to understand without someone pointing them out to you. La Quemada was OK, but nothing compared the first class ruins elsewhere in Mexico. The nearby town of Guadelupe has a nice museum of religious art, if you like religious art. Zacatecas itself is lively and quite lovely with five excellent art museums mostly featuring contemporary mexican artists.

cgage · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Memphis

Thanks Jillford. I'll be working with some kids that I know. Prefer temperate Zac. I hate heat. Thinking of also going to Colima/Manzanilla or Puerta Vallarta. Comments about those places?
Also need info about city to city bus service. Cost etc
Thanks

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

http://www.busstation.net/main/busmex.htm Bus Info

cgage · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Memphis

Thanks, GC. I looked up Omnibus de Mex. Looks like prices are cheap
$50US Zacatecas to Laredo. Looking forward to my new adopted country.
Cant afford France anymore. And 35 years of Parisian waiters.....
Thanks

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

I hate Omnibus de Mexico. I took the Juarez to Mexico City trip one too many times. Futura is much better on that route and covers the distance faster.

Zacatecas is an interesting city and does have some nice things. The club in the cave is something not to be missed. Zacatecas certainly is high and not hot, but I got the feeling everytime I was there that the city was on the edge of the world and in some ways it is, it is just on the edge of where I consider central Mexico to be. The road splits there, one to Aguas Calientes, Leon and Queretaro and the other to San Luis Potosi and Queretaro where the roads rejoin each other.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Queretaro is worth a visit, as is Aguascalientes. You could give San Luis (the city) a miss but la huasteca potosina is well worth it. Round about now is a good time to go as it gets up to 50 degrees in summer. Only go to Leon if you want to go shopping. Guanajuato, about half an hour from Leon is well worth a visit too, and is quite high up.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City