JudyB

Hi all. In November my hubby and I will be taking our first trip to Mexico (not counting a few visits to Tijuana!). We will be flying into Mexico City, visiting our daugher in Pueblo at school and will be in Mexico Saturday to Saturday and want to visit other areas. We're wide open for ideas on what we should do, anybody have any suggestions on what we should include? Probably won't be renting a car, I understand the bus system is pretty good. I would also like advice on clothing, what's the weather like at this time? Thanks for any suggestions!

Marilyn

It's a large question, JudyB, but I'll just respond to one small part of it. The weather will be quite different depending on where you go in Mexico, a rather large country. In Mexico City, it should be pleasantly warm during the day (T-shirt weather), with cooler evenings during which you might want a light sweater or jacket.

In general, the farther south you go, the balmier it will be, and the higher the altitude, the chillier at night especially.

Dude

Is you daughter in Puebla? You are not really clear, are you just going to be there for the weekend? When you say we will be in Mexico Saturday and Sunday are you refering to Mexico City? Clarify things a little and I will try to offer some suggestions.

resipsaloquitur

It isn't clear from your post if your "Saturday to Saturday" stay includes or is in addition to your visit with your daughter in Puebla. But even if it doesn't include the family visit, it is only about a week! This is not much time to travel around to many "areas" in a country as large as Mexico. Yes, the Mexican deluxe buses are quite good, but they can only cover so many kilometers in one day, and the fact that much of Mexico is quite mountainous doesn't improve their speed. Going to a lot of far-flung places will mean that you will spend most of your time in a bus or car or even in an airport waiting room. I would suggest that you enjoy Puebla (which is an interesting "colonial" city with a lot to see) and then pick perhaps one other destination in the country of Mexico.

As to what destination - well, there's Mexico City itself - with all its challenges, it has the advantage of being so close to Puebla, and is
an amazing place with an endless list of attractions - just to name a few - the National Museum of Archaeology, Chalpultepec Hill and Palace, Xochimilco (sp?), the Zocalo and Cathedral, the Templo Mayor exacvations, the Frida Kahlo house, and the pyramids at Teotihuacan.

You could also skip Mexico City and spend several days in the fascinating city of Oaxaca (several hours - almost all day - on a bus from Puebla), or to Guadalajara (best to fly), or if you want the beach, fly (too far to drive) to Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Cozumel or Puerto Vallarta. Just remember that hurricane season in the Caribbean doesn't officially end until November 30.

Once you visit one part of Mexico, you'll probably be drawn back for more, so don't try to see too muchon the first go-round!

JudyB

Thank you Dude for offering to make some suggestions. We are flying into Mexico City on Friday, heading to Puebla on Saturday which is where my daughter is at school, and that?s as far as our plan has gotten. We are flying out of Mexico City the following Saturday. Our initial thought is to NOT stay in Puebla for the whole week. We?re interested in any suggestions you Mexico experts might have as far as how to best spend our time. Other cities, museums, sightseeing, music, food, local flavor?..distances to outlying areas, etc.

Resipsaloquitur?.Thanks for the first-hand info on Puebla and Oxaca and outlying areas that?s the kind of info we?re looking for.

And one final question, is "stained glass" as abundant in this area as it is in Tijuana? Thanks again!

JudyB

Oh yeah, thanks to Marilyn too for the info about the weather!

Wednesday

I totally agree with resipsaloquitur. Some of the most amazing memories I have are visting the zocalo, Frida's house and Coyocan, and the Aztec pyramids. The museum was very interesting but HUGE !

Marilyn

You're welcome, Judy. I agree with the other posters that you owe it to yourself to spend at least a few days in Mexico City. There is so much fabulous stuff to see and do there, but I find the city very intense and sometimes the pollution gets to me after a few days. So I like to spend my time there in 2-3 day blocks.

Depending on how you like to travel, you could certainly spend half your week in the Puebla area and half in Mexico City. That would be a lovely trip, in my opinion. Oaxaca is my favorite city in Mexico, but if I found myself dropped into Puebla, I wouldn't immediately head off to somewhere else.

resipsaloquitur

Oops! That's the National Museum of ANTHROPOLOGY not Archaeology in Mexico City! Whatever you call it, though,it is one of the greatest museums in the world.

Dude

Definately a little time in Puebla. At this point I bet your daughter will be able to show you the highlights. I would be really torn deciding betweeen the rest of the time in Mexico City or taking the five hour bus ride from Puebla to Oaxaca City and the Oaxaca valley. If you do Mexico City it is big, sometimes intese, and you have to be careful, but it is an incredibly interesting place. Most of the info. is above. Templo Mayor, Metropolitan Cathedral, Diego River Murals in the Nationl Palace, Chapultepec, the National Museum of Anthropology, and definateley a trip out to Teotihucan, maybe even combining it with a stop at La Villa de Guadalupe. If you went to Oaxaca, the city itself with Santo Domingo and its museum, the Abastos market, Monte Alban, Mitla, Teotitlan de Valle, and maybe a couple of other towns to see various crafts and culture. Plus you could route back through Puebla for a night and see your daughter again. As above I wouldn't try to travel too much as there is so much to see in the area and within a few hours of where you will be. Weather should be very pleasant during the day if you stay at altitude and even cool at night. It was 58 and Sunny when I passed through Mexico City in June. All year people are often surprised how cool it is. Have a wonderful trip!!

JudyB

thanks all. The information is really helpful in making an informed decision about what we can reasonably do, and still enjoy ourselves.