Posts Tagged ‘Traveling In Mexico’

« Older Entries

Traveling in Mexico: Cuautla – Have You Ever Eaten Chicken Feet?

January 5th, 2010



Have you ever eaten chicken feet? How about barbequed chicken necks? What? I thought not. So, while you’re in Cuautla you’ll have your chance. Don’t miss it! Now here’s what you need to do:

Hotel Colon

Address: Main Plaza

Phone: 352 – 2186

The premiere place for people-watching smack dab on the Zocalo. Meals are of local fare and modestly priced. The day’s offerings are written on a standing menu posted right out front on the sidewalk complete with prices. The wall-less dining area is just an extension of the Zocalo sidewalk, so you could spend hours here just sippin’ “Jamaica” and winkin’ at the passers-by. And there’ll be plenty. It’s an excellent “first stop” on your Cuautla tour. While you’re at it, pick up a copy of “THE NEWS”, Mexico’s premiere English language newspaper or, in Spanish, “El Sol de Cuautla”, both on sale just a few steps away at the news stand in front of the restaurant.

The Plaza Galeana

Address: at the corner of Los Bravos and Estrada Bollas

At this shopping plaza and gallery, there are a number of little eateries at budget prices featuring everything from pizza to fried chicken and roast turkey. There are juice bars, ice cream shops and a couple of discos for the teeny-boppers (called “coca-colos” in Spanish). If you’re not sure what you want to eat, or it’s late, just drop by here and stroll around until you find something you like. (to EAT, that is!)

On Los Bravos, the street leading north from the Zocalo to the Plaza Galeana, there are likewise several shops and a couple of fairly good restaurants to tempt your palette.

Rosticero de Pollos

Address: Calle 2 de Mayo and Zemano

(half a block up the street from the Hotel España and one block from the Hotel Colon)

If you’ve never eaten chicken feet or roast chicken necks, here’s the place you can correct that fault. Served piping hot right off the rotisserie, bursting with flavor and CHEAP at 10 pesos for a dozen, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. It’ll make a great story to tell your grandchildren! “Did I ever tell you about the time I ate chicken feet in Cuautla? Zapata’s rebel forces were headquartered just down the road you see, and …”

Jugos Y Tortas Alameda

Address: Galeano at the corner of Ferraro

A veggies-only restaurant that serves such delicious specialties as “Omelet Huitlacoche” and platters of Chilaquiles, nopales (cactus) and an assortment of “tortas” for 7 to 26 pesos. Servings are plentiful and tasty even for non-vegetarians like me. A selection of juices in combinations having medicinal properties are also offered. The juice combinations and their specific benefits are written up on plaques hung around the restaurant walls.

EL Oasis

Address: Galeano between Ramirez and Ferrano

This restaurant is open late for party-goers and the late-night crowd and serves tempting meals at reasonable prices. There’s internet service at a bank of six computers in the rear of the restaurant. Rates are 10 pesos per hour or 6 pesos for 30 minutes. Try their fresh-whipped hot chocolate on a cool Cuautla night for a zesty pick-me-up.

Be sure to check out my other articles in the two continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and Traveling in Mexico. If you would like more information, have questions or comments, the author can be e-mailed; see address below.

By: Larry M. Lynch

No comments »

Posted in Article

Tags:

Traveling in Mexico: Where to Stay in Cancun Without Spending Your Inheritance

December 30th, 2009



WHERE TO STAY IN CANCUN:

If you’re dreaming of a bungalow on the beach and living with the sounds of waves lapping crystal sands as music to your ears lulling you like a lullaby – return to earth – those places cost far more than you’ll probably ever be able to afford as a working English language teacher here. If you’ll consider living as the locals do, then you’ll be off the beach, but only a few minutes bus ride away from the powdery, sugar-like sands of one of the world’s most pristine stretches of diatomaceous beach. Still interested?

Most of Cancun’s more affordable hotels are near the main bus terminal on the Avenida Uxmal or the Avenida Tulum. It’s an easy area to get to or away from starting from any point in the Cancun area. Buses to the beach and resorts run along the Avenida Tulum. It’s also a relatively safe area at night with plenty of places to eat, shop, and work located nearby. Note: Prices in Cancun are higher than in most other Mexican cities for the same or similar services and from there rise dramatically during the Winter months.

Hotel El Alux

Avenida Uxmal No. 21

884 – 0662, 884 – 0556


This small hotel has reasonably-priced air-conditioned (you’ll need it) rooms with TV, phone and hot water for 220 pesos, single or 240 pesos for a double. Staff is friendly and helpful. A travel agent and car rental agency are on the ground floor with tour information and budget-priced vehicles available. You can walk here from the bus station, just go to the corner of Avenida Uxmal, cross the street and go left for one block. It’s the multi-story pink building.

Hotel Cotty

Avenida Uxmal No. 44

884 – 1319, 884 – 0550


For about the same prices as the Hotel Alux, you can get lodging in this motel-style inn across and down the street a bit. It’s not as nice, but the services are adequate and rooms are clean. There are only two floors, so an elevator isn’t necessary and rooms open onto a central courtyard that doubles as a parking area. Make sure to get an air-conditioned room, the Yucatan sizzles in Summer. A restaurant is on the premises with inexpensive fare on the menu. It’s also open late.

Hotel Uxmal

Avenida Uxmal No. 111

884 – 2266, 884 – 2355


Two blocks further along the Avenida Uxmal, near Berlitz, this inexpensive, family-run hotel is popular with the locals as a “love motel”, since the Avenida Yaxchilan is closeby. No “working girls” or “ladies of the evening” though. So, it’s OK as an alternate if you’re having trouble finding a place soon after arrival. Check the room first before paying as quality can vary widely. Rooms with A/C are more, but worth it if available. Prices are around 160 pesos to 180 pesos. Some rooms are even less, but without A/C, though they do have a fan.

By: Larry M. Lynch

No comments »

Posted in Article

Tags:

Traveling in Mexico: More Places to Stay in Cancun That Don’t Cost the Shirt Off Your Back

December 27th, 2009



MORE PLACES TO STAY IN CANCUN:

If you’re still checking out digs in Cancun, here are more inexpensive hotels you can add to your list. No Bunky, you’re still not going to be staying on the beach, but there IS air conditioning and sometimes even a nice pool.

Hotel Novotel

Avenida Tulum No. 75 (near the bus terminal)

884 – 2999

Fax: 884 – 3162


Rooms here are a tad pricier than on the Avenida Uxmal but all rooms are air conditioned and comfortable although rooms fronting the street can be noisy at times. The location is good and transportation conveniently available on the Avenida Tulum for zipping all around town. Expect to pay $300 pesos to $360 pesos during the slow periods from May to June and from October to mid December, which is hurricane season in this part of the Caribbean. The Summer months of June and July are slow enough that you can haggle a pretty good deal for an extended stay of a few days to a couple of weeks or so. Prices will sky-rocket during the peak Winter season.

Hotel Best Western Plaza Caribe

Avenida Uxmal (directly across the street from the bus terminal)

884 – 1377

Fax: 884 – 6352


This is the priciest of the accommodations mentioned in our listings. If you arrive very late into the city and speak little (or no) Spanish, don’t get yourself into a dither or risk any danger tromping around the area late at night. You don’t want to run into any of the “late-night” people who frequent the vicinity. You can just pop right across the street and book a room for the night here (staff speaks English) and do your search in earnest for a more moderately-priced room the next day. Don’t run the gauntlet of undesirables (including taxi drivers) late at night here – especially without a solid command of Spanish. The $40 USD you’ll pay is well worth your health and safety if it comes to that.

Casa de Huespedes Punta Allen

Punta Allen No. 8 (half a block off the Avenida Uxmal)

Cancun

884 – 0225, 884 – 1001


A small place with economical, but rather Spartan, unattractive rooms. Quality of the rooms varies somewhat, although most I saw were fairly tight quarters and not too well lit. All have at least a fan and many are air conditioned. Their singles are priced at $170 pesos, while doubles go for $230 pesos. And these are the LOW season prices. Negotiate the rate if you’re going to be around more than a few days. Peak season prices fluctuate based on what the traffic will bear and the economy at the moment.

By: Larry M. Lynch

No comments »

Posted in Article

Tags: