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OUR HOTELS ARE:
| CITY |
NIGHTS | HOTEL |
| Toluca |
1 | Holiday Inn |
| Patzcuaro |
4 | Mansion Iturbe |
| Guanajuato |
2 | Casa de Espiritus Alegres |
| San Miguel |
3 | Hacienda de Las Flores |
COST Double occupancy: $2,595 per person
Single occupancy: $2,995 per person
Airfare is not included
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We encourage you to sign up for this unique travel opportunity without delay as space is limited.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
1-888-783-1331
480-730-1764
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The Colonial Cities 11 Day Itinerary
July 25 to August 4, 2008
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DAY 1 FRIDAY Fly independently to Mexico City where you will be met by our guide, Alex Ramirez, and transferred to the Holiday Inn in Toluca, just west of Mexico City. This evening enjoy a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel. D.
DAY 2 SATURDAY In Toluca we’ll visit the Vitral Botanical Garden, which offers not only unusual plants, but unique stained glass ceilings and walls as well. Metepec is where we’ll meet two of Mexico’s most famous trees of life artisans, Oscar Soteno Elias and Alfonso Soteno. We’ll learn how they assemble their intricate ceramic trees of life. After a quick lunch we drive to the Purépecha/Tarazcan Indian city of Patzcuaro, founded in 1540, check into Hotel Mansion Iturbe and have our welcome margarita. This evening enjoy a buffet dinner and watch the viejitos come out to dance. Believe me, you’ll laugh heartily. B, D.
DAY 3 SUNDAY Hear Indians speaking their native languages when we explore Patzcuaro’s vibrant native market where vendors from all over the state sell their wears. Then, take a city tour with stops at the Plaza Grande and the Plaza Chica and the not-to-be-missed Museo Regional de Artes Populares, a museum of handicrafts, both antique and recent, and the 16th c. Church next door - La Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud. Walk through the House of the Eleven Patios, an outstanding colonial building, where we will see beautifully crafted lacquered wooden boxes and other unique crafts for sale. View Juan O’Gorman’s famous mural in the Gertrudis Bocanegra Library and learn the history of the state of Michoacan and about Padre Vasco de Quiroga, a 16 c. advocate for the indigenous Purépecha. Lunch is on our own. In the afternoon, swing by the village of Erongariquaro to see the artisans of Eronga making furniture and art objects lacquered in many layers. In the village of Toquaro we’ll visit the home and workshop of Felipe Horta, a top mask maker. We have dinner this evening at Doña Paca. B, D.
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DAY 4 MONDAY Today, Kevin Quigly will escort us to the homes and workshops of several artisans who work in straw, wood and clay in their native villages of Tzintzuntzan, Quiroga and Ihuatzio, all located around Lake Patzcuaro. We’ll see the Yacata Ruins, also located on the banks of the Lake. Kevin’s wife, Arminda, a native Purépecha, will prepare a delicious native lunch for us in their village home. Kevin will talk to us about the intriguing customs and politics of the state of Michoacan and the Purépecha Indians. Ask him any question. B, L.
DAY 5 TUESDAY This morning, prepare yourself for a most amazing sight when we drive to the village of Angajuan to see the Church of San Juan Parangaricutiro. When you see the upper half of the church protruding from a 10 mile sea of lava, which buried two towns during the 1943 eruption of the now extinct volcano, Paricutin, you’ll understand why this site is known as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Have a picnic lunch overlooking Paricutin. In the afternoon, drive to Mexico’s copper capital, Santa Clara del Cobre, to see the workshop of prize-winner Angel Ignacio Punzo. Mr. Punzo and his sons will demonstrate how they forge, hammer and shape their stunning copper and silver vessels by hand from recycled scrap metal in the centuries-old-method. Visit the Copper Museum and a great jewelry store. In Uruapan, we visit Telares Uruapan where our hosts, Bundy and Walter Illsley, will show us their fascinating turn-of-the-century machinery and teach us about the thread by thread warping and harnessing techniques used to weave their beautiful bed spreads and table cloths. Drive back to Patzcuaro. B, L.
DAY 6 WEDNESDAY Today, drive to the elegant city of Morelia, founded in 1541. Take a city tour to see, regal colonial buildings constructed of the region’s pinkish-golden stone, wide boulevards, and lovely squares exemplifying the Spanish colonial style of the 17th and 18th centuries. Stop at Plaza de Armas to see the Zocalo, visit the Cathedral and Palacio del Gobierno to view murals by Alfredo Zalce. Also, see Palacio Clavijero and the Templo de la Compañía de Jesus, originally a church, now the public library. Walk through Conservatorio de las Rosas and enjoy a delicious Mexican lunch at the beautiful restaurant, Las Mercedes. We then visit El Templo de San Francisco and a great crafts museum and shop, Casa de las Artesanias. We see Morelia’s beautiful aqueduct and the Tarazcas Fountain and, If time permits, go to Plaza del Carmen and the Instituto Michoacano de Cultura before driving to Guanajuato, founded in 1559, where we check into Casa de Espiritus Alegres where we enjoy cocktails and a tempting supper. B, L .
DAY 7 THURSDAY Beguiling. Mysterious. Intriguing. These are apt descriptions of Guanajuato, the mountainous old mining town which once supplied a third of the world’s silver. In this city of subterranean tunnels and labyrinthine streets we’ll learn how Mexico won it’s independence from Spain, as well as the fascinating histories of Benito Juarez, Emperor Maximillian, Porfirio Diaz and Diego Rivera. We visit the Teatro Juarez and the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, one of Mexico’s best museums, located in a splendid old building which was once the town granary. The museum’s four huge bronze masks of the revolutionary heroes provide a memorable lesson in Mexican history. We visit Diego Rivera’s boyhood home - now a museum - and the workshop of Guanajuato’s premier potter, Gorky Gonzalez, who makes Talavera and Majolica ceramics. Drive up the hill to La Valencia and have lunch at La Casa del Conde de Valencia and shop or browse for a few minutes in their wonderful folk art store. Then visit the 18th c. Templo de San Cayetano, Guanajuato’s most spectacular church. Our last stop of the day is at the Monument of El Pípila where the whole city unfolds below us. This is a great photo-op and, hopefully, we’ll also catch a splendid sunset. B, L.
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DAY 8 FRIDAY This morning, visit the Gene Byron spectacular hacienda, gardens and museum in Marfil. Drive to San Miguel de Allende. En route we make a stop in the ceramic town of Dolores Hidalgo to shop for ceramics and have lunch. We also stop at the captivating Sanctuary of Atotonilco el Grande, one of “World Monuments Watch” most important buildings meriting preservation. We check into our San Miguel hotel, Hacienda de las Flores. Here, our hostess, Alicia Franiutti will offer us a margarita and a splendid assortment of hors d’ouvres. In the evening we take a walk to witness San Miguel’s lively Friday night atmosphere. B, D, H.
DAY 9 SATURDAY San Miguel de Allende, a small, yet sophisticated cosmopolitan town, founded in 1542, is a center for writers and artists, and is also noted for its historic, well preserved architectural treasures and gourmet restaurants. This morning we take a walking tour of San Miguel. We’ll see three beautiful churches, the splendid La Paroquia, Santa Casa de Loreto and Oratorio de San Felipe Neri. We’ll also visit San Miguel’s famous art school, Instituto Allende. Art consultant, Margaret Failoni, will join us for a quick lunch and to visit three of San Miguel’s top painters in their homes and studios. We’ll take a look at La Aurora Art Center. In the early evening we’ll have a special roof-top cocktail reception in a gorgeous loft apartment where we catch a panoramic view of San Miguel. This evening we dine in one of San Miguel’s best restaurants. B, D.
DAY 10 SUNDAY Today you have a choice: a free day in San Miguel to relax, explore or shop (we’ll provide you with a list of great shops); or take an all morning trip to Queretaro where you’ll take a walking tour of the city’s historic center with its richly embellished colonial architecture. On the tour visit Plaza de la Independencia, the Church of Santa Rosa de Viterbo, La Casa de la Corregidora and Casa de la Marquesa. Lunch is on our own. The remainder of the afternoon is free in San Miguel. We will meet this evening for our farewell dinner in one of San Miguel’s fine restaurants. B, D.
DAY 11 MONDAY Following breakfast, we take the 3 ½ hour drive to Mexico City airport for the return flight home. You’ll have many rich and fond memories. B.
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