Job Discussion Forums

[EMH1969]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question about buying a laptop in Mexico City. I have a few other questions:

1) I�ve been in Guanajuato for the past 5 weeks studying Spanish at a language school. I�ve learned a lot but still have much to learn. Are there any bookstores in Mexico where I could pick up materials (books or CDs) for learning Spanish?

2) What about a bookstore that sells travel guidebooks (lonely planet or similar) in English)?

3) An inexpensive place to buy luggage? (I�ve decided my current suitcase is too small)

[notamiss]

1) I've seen CD packages for learning Spanish at Costco.

2) You can download Lonely Planet guidebooks from their website. http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/index.jsp?affil=lpgn-h They have a mix'n'match option where you only buy the chapters you're interested in.

3) Costco, for one.

[Guy Courchesne]

Costco...Melee's favorite.

There are several good bookstores geared toward language learning. In the centro historico, on Bolivar st, you'll find the American Bookstore. Four other smaller bookstores specializing in languages are on and around Antonio Caso street, close to Insurgentes. New Option bookstore is one I've used frequently.

I haven't seen Lonely Planets available in Mexico City. But, if they are anywhere, you might find them at a Sanborn's in a touristy area, or a Ghandi bookstore. There is one near Bellas Artes.

Costco and Walmart have cheap luggage. I've purchased some at smaller vendors in the centro historico before as well.

[EMH1969]

Thanks again for the replies. I assume that Costco in Mexico requires a membership just like they do in the States? If so, what does that run?

[Guy Courchesne]

[MELEE]

I do love costco!
You might even find a good computer there, but you just never know--that's why I love it, it's an adventure.

But if you don't want to become a member...

Download your guide book. Lonely Planet should have done that years ago! (They do have them in Oaxaca at a book store called Amate...)

Get your Spanish materials on-line, there was a recent thread on this. Some are free, some are not.

So that just leaves luggage. It depends on what quality you are looking for. Costco would have name brands, but you can get a bag in a pinch in any market in Mexico, sometimes good ones, at good prices. There are also these great plastic burlap bags that fold flat and are sturdy enough for travel. Great for putting your clothes in, to make room in your exsisting suitcase. They used to only come in plaids, but now they come in Disney designs too.

[lozwich]

You can buy a Lonely Planet at American Bookstore in DF, Insurgentes Sur 1168, if you're not into downloading it. I'm a messy traveller, printouts would get destroyed in my backpack in no time.

[EMH1969]

Thanks again for the replies! A few follow-up questions:

1) I don�t have a Costco membership so I�d have to get one if I decided to buy anything there. Just in case....can I get there via the subway?

2) Lozwich: I�m a messy traveler as well so a hard copy works better for me. Any idea if the American bookstore sells Lonely Planets for South America?

[Guy Courchesne]

Three Costcos that I know of in DF. One is in Polanco, but not near the metro stop there. I usually taxi in and out...especially out with a load of stuff. Second is near San Jeronimo, and not near a metro. Third one is in Xochimilco, and near a metro line. Be advised though, they may not let you on the metro if you have an enormous amount of stuff.

[notamiss]

EMH1969 doesn't plan to have an enormous amount of stuff, though, just a piece of luggage and Spanish language learning kit. The language kit can be packed inside the luggage for even more compactness.

The Xochimilco Costco is next to the Perif�rico stop of the tren ligero. You get to the tren ligero by transferring at Tasque�a, which is at the south end of the #2 blue line of the Metro.

[lozwich]

[EMH1969]

Guy: I know about the metro restriction. That�s generally just for rush hour, right?

Notamiss: You forgot to mention the really inexpensive laptop I�m going to find at Costco.

Lozwich: I�ve heard that same complaint about the SA guide elsewhere. And it�s surprising that LP would charge so much for downloading their guide.

[notamiss]

Well, the laptop can fit inside the suitcase, too...

But when is rush hour? A few months ago I heard this filler item on the radio stating that our rush hour has now been determined as lasting from 7:00 am to something like 9:00 or 10:00 pm. (That was road traffic they were talking about, not necessarily the Metro). Anyway that is surely an underestimate for some local areas, because in my neighbourhood, it starts between 6:00 and 6:15 am. The difference between getting out at 6:00 or 6:15 pretty much adds an hour to your commute to anywhere.

[Guy Courchesne]

People around here joke that the Mexico City rush hour runs from about 5 AM Monday morning to Friday evening about 8 PM.

One benefit to living in the central part of Mexico City...you usually move opposite rush hour traffic in and out of the burbs.

As for metro restrictions on baggage, it's really up to the security guys wandering around...sometimes they are near the gates, sometimes you don't see any. They use their discretion in stopping people with huge amounts of luggage or bags, so when it's packed at morning and afternoon rush hour, they'll stop you. Other times of the day, you're ok.

[EMH1969]

Just to close the loop on this...the American bookstore had a few travel guidebooks but by far the best selection I�ve seen was at the Ghandi bookstores. Not on par with a Borders or Barnes and Noble mind you but still a quite large selection for all over the world.

The American bookstore also had a few materials for learning Spanish as did one of the places on Antonio Caso that Guy mentioned (the one closest to Insurgentes). Couldn�t find anything that interested me but it was worth a look.

As for luggage, I�ve only seen a few places in Centro that had luggage and most of it was expensive (or at least on par with costs in the States). I can manage with what I have right now, but things are a bit tight.

Haven�t made it out to Costco to see what thay have.

Thanks again for all the helpful responses!