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Usagui is a very reasonably-priced authentic Japanese restaurant. Much the best in the city, as evidenced by the numbers of Japanese that throng there on the weekends. It does not do Mexican/Japanese food, like some of the cheaper neighbourhood 'puestos' do, but the real deal. Closed Mondays.
The British owner/chef at Brasserie serves delicious, reasonably-priced Mediterranean food in an atmospheric old house with a beautiful terrace. A leisurely mojito recommended while you soak up the ambience. Open only Weds/Thurs/Fri for lunch & dinner.
Usagui: Manuel Acuña, 1&1/2 blocks from Avenida Americas, Colonia Sta. Teresita. Look for the big yellow rabbit on the right.
Brasserie: Priscilliano Sanchez #1171, immediately on the right hand side of the road triangle. Zona: Chapultepec/Centro.
Safer, as generally taxi drivers are a bit dodgy, and means that you aren't carrying cash around. They are also more likely to speak English and actually take you where you want to go.
An amazing and huge area with a great variety of cactus. Part of it has signals and paths to move around; there is an old dam which is now used by migrating and local birds. There is another wilder area, great views, beautiful birds and these magnificent plants: cactus of all kinds. A beautiful green area in the magnificent town of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.
Cuncun is a fantastic place with beautiful sandy beaches and sky blue seas! I spent my honeymoon there and to have 'real mexican' food every day...what a treat!
Very pleasant cafe, bookshop, and CD store in the heart of Condesa. I spotted Carlos Monsivais sipping coffee on a table opposite and felt very much the intellectual about town. Good selection of fiction, history, art books (in Spanish).
Nuevo León 115, in Condesa.
This restaurant is about 45 minutes out of town, near Zaachila. It has excellent food and it's also great to go with kids. It's an open restaurant with hammocks around and lots of fun for kids and the food is great - try the mole with turkey or the pit barbacoa of goat or lamb in avocado leaves.
Also good antojitos (especially the tlayudas) and other Oaxacan specialties that you’d find in an outdoor restaurant. Unless you have a car, you’ll need to hire a taxi by the hour and have him wait.
This restaurante is about 45 minutes out of town, near Zaachila.
Nearest town to the ruins, stay the night (very cheap and one nice restaurant) and walk into the ruins in the morning - be the only people there for a few hours before hundreds of coaches arrive (get amazing photos not covered in people!) Get there by bus instead of paying top dollar for a tour.
Puerto Morelos is just outside on Cancun, but a world away. It's a small resort, quite different from package holiday central of Cancun. There's great beaches also - highly recommended.
San Miguel de Allende is a historic small city in the heart of Mexico, about 3 hours by car north of the capital. It's a great place to use as a base for exploring old colonial cities such as Guanajuato. It is also a wonderful place for artists and for people who want to take Spanish courses. There are quite a few Europeans who live here full or part-time and a lot more Americans, but it still retains the feel of Mexican city. Near to the town are a group of swimming pools fed by hot springs. Look it up on the internet and you'll see why so many people come here to visit and end up living here - like me!
San Miguel de Allende, State of Guanajuato
Lovely town to walk around and get a feel for the real Mexico away from the crowded, tourist beaches of Yucatan. Stay in the Casa Mexilio - it's quirky! (www.casamexilio.com)
We drove from Cancun on lovely straight, empty roads!
This hotel has a good restaurant and bar and is centrally located. The hotel is spotless and the service excellent. We used to stay at Hotel Catedral, but it was often booked up. This is a better alternative, same price, better deal and better situated.
It is a couple of blocks from Parque Alameda, Bellas Artes, Paseo Reforma and all that area contains in Centro Historico. $40 to $60 for a suite! Recommended. Free internet.
Guerrero No. 12, and Puente Alvarado, opposite a small park. Tel. 55668333
www.hotel-monaco.com.mx
"El Ministerio de Educacion Publica" houses an incredible collection of Diego Rivera murals.
These are his early murals (the 20s) and are on three floors surrounding an open courtyard with jacaranda trees.
Calle Argentina No. 28, Centro Historico, near Donceles. Free admission.
On its 8th edition, this latin rock festival, the most important of its kind, will see the performance of 67 bands from 10 different countries. Cafe Tacuba, El Tri and Gustavo Cerati will be the headliners, and the British Steel Pulse and The Magic Numbers, the special guests.
Foro Sol, Mexico City
www.vivelatino.com.mx
I visited Puerto Escondido in September and stayed in an enormous, ocean front home with a group of friends. The price, per person, was unbeatable and came with a cook, butler, driver and maid. They prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner if desired. I have never experienced this type of architecture - the living area is completely open air covered by a large palapa. The bedrooms and entertainment room are enclosed and air conditioned. Right next door is an equally impressive, yet slightly larger house which had a wedding party arrive the day we were leaving. If and when I get married, I think this may be the place where I will go. Between the two homes, I it can accommodate 30-35 people.
I also learned how to surf. We went fishing and caught a boat load of Yellowfin Tuna - 27 to be exact as well as one Sailfish which we let go. Also got to see a lot of schools of dolphins jumping all over the place and a whale spouting in the distance. I can't wait to go back and am considering purchasing land and building there. I heard the prices have been going up quickly but from what I saw there are still some good deals to be found.
I found the property at www.puertorealestate.com
The place I stayed was Desclaza which is next to Rubio.
I flew from NY to Mexico City to Puerto Escondido (PXM). One of my friends flew into Huatulco which was about 1 hour 15 minute drive south.
It's a surfer breakfast place on the beach with the best breakfast burritos ever.
It's run by Christians but don't let that put you off!
on Zicatela beach
All of the above along with Cirilo's wife's enchiladas - mmmm.
Bus from DF to Rio Grande, Oaxaca. Local bus to Zapolito and then a speed boat to the beach.
Chacahua is around 45 miles from Puerto Escondido.
A superb collection of art all based on Don Quixote ranging from modern sculptures to classic paintings. In my nine month gap year it was one of my top five highlights, it really is that good.
Artists with work on display include Picasso and Dali.
Manuel Doblado 1
Phone: +52 (473) 732 6721 and 732 3376
Fax: +52 (473) 732 6117
E-mail: mquijote@guanajuato.gob.mx
Puerto Escondido is a fabulous place to stay in Mexico, semi-tropical with miles of white beaches and some hidden paradises. One of the best activities to do is a visit to one of the nearby lagunas, such as Mazunte or Manialtepec. In the lagunas you will find delights such as a turtle sanctuary where baby sea-turtles crawl into your hand and you drink fresh coconut from the shell, mangrove forests filled with thousands of brightly coloured birds and crocodiles (best avoided wherever possible). Although we're not bird-watchers, we went on a tour guided by an ornatholagist and it was absolutely wonderful.
For eco-tours in Puerto Escondido see:
www.peleewings.ca/ecco.php
Right in the historic centre of this beautiful town, this attractive and friendly hostel with white-washed walls, terracotta tiles and al fresco dining is a great way to kick start your travels into one of the most culturally rich and beautiful parts of Mexico. Particularly good for travellers on a budget, as it is fantastic value for money.
So you’ve slipped over the Mexican border (thus violating the contract of your US hire car company), sidestepped the dirt and desperation of Tijuana, and cruised straight down Highway 1 into Baja California.
You’ve discovered the quaint fishing port town of Ensenada and decided to stay the night. You’re tucking into a freshly cooked swordfish steak and feeling pretty smug at having not been tempted by the sordidness of Tijuana, some couple of hours back up the road.
However, you’ve still got that primitive urge to nail some Mexican beers, down some tequila and go shake it with the locals. Where to go in Ensenda then? Papas & Beer is by far the most fun nightspot here. Sure there’s still the inevitable underage crowds of American college students flashing their fake ID’s and fake tits on the bar (not a bad thing if you’re a smooth-talking but undiscerning English guy with questionable morals) but there’s also a healthy mix of glammed up local senoritas. While it all ended in a blur for me, from what I recall, there were a number of rooms playing party tunes across all the main genres and the atmosphere was very very wild.
Avenida Lopez Mateos and Ruiz, Ensenada
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