My Plan for Eleven Days in Mexico!

¡Voy a México mañana!

I leave for Mexico tomorrow for eleven days and I am super pumped! I am meeting my friend Bertha (pronounced “Bare-Tah” in español, sounds so much better than how it’s said in English) who is getting married this Saturday. We studied abroad together in Buenos Aires and when she invited me to her wedding, I believe my response was (in attempted Spanish via Facebook chat), “If you aren’t kidding, I’m coming! And I’ll make it my vacation.”

So that’s exactly what I’m doing. And if I’m going all the way to Mexico, might as well go big and see a few different places right? Go to the beach? Experience real Mexico? Yes, I thought so too.

Entonces…

We fly into BJX (León, in the state of Guanajuato) and we’re heading to the city of Celaya to hang out with Bertha and her friends in their town for the first night. The next day, Charlie and I will head to the bus station and take the hour and a half ride to the city of…

Guanajuato

The state capital where the Festival Cervantino Internacional will be going on (and we’re actually really lucky to have found a place to stay). Guanajuato is a beautiful colonial and university city, and it’s an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historically known for its silver, it is colorful and European and one of the prettiest cities in Mexico. Bertha told me we HAD to go, as there wasn’t much going on in her hometown… and I’m sure she doesn’t want to have to babysit us as she prepares to um, get married!

We got a fantastically rated B&B, Casa Zuniga, with the nicest owner (who has already emailed me to make sure we find our way there okay!) for two nights in Guanajuato. And I’ve already found a place where I want to eat and drink… after stopping by the markets for some street food, of course. If it isn’t packed with tons of other Lonely Planet groupies, I want to try the supposedly authentic bar La Clave Azul, as it serves free botanas (little snacks, kind of like Mexican version of tapas) with each drink that you order. The rest of the time we’re in Guanajuato I hope to wander, check out the street performances, the mariachi bands, and maybe Diego Rivera’s house and La Callejon de Beso.

I don’t want to make too many plans, because I hear the city is really walkable and just want to explore. Vamos a ver!

Celaya, otra vez

We are going to get up on time on Saturday. And we are going to make that 7:30 AM bus back to Celaya. So that we have time to check into our hotel (the Euro Inn, where the wedding block is located). So that we have time to get ready. So that we are not late to the wedding!

Bertha is getting married at an ex-hacienda just outside of her town which looks amazing. It’s the Mexican version of getting married at an old plantation. Tons of outdoor space and old buildings. And I’ve already been told all about the food they are going to serve at the wedding… they even have a “mole de novia” or “mole blanco,” the rarest of the moles (no, mom, I’m not saying it “mole” like the underground animal, please pronounce it “moh-lay”). Mole is pretty much my favorite Mexican food and I’ve never even heard of mole blanco! Needless to say, I’m pretty excited for the real stuff. Also, who could say no to a real Mexican wedding?! Party Time.

Huatulco, la playa por fin!

When I asked Bertha if she had any recommendations for a beach trip after her wedding, she didn’t hesitate to say Huatulco. To which I replied, “Qué es un huatulco?” Turns out it’s a laid back, beautiful beach that I’d never heard of… because apparently only Mexican and Canadian tourists visit (based on my extensive online research). Mexico’s government designated the area for tourism and later created a protected natural reserve with restrictions on overdevelopment to keep it awesome and pristine (ish).

Huatulco is made up of nine bays and thirty-six beaches, one of them even provided the backdrop for “Y Tú Mamá También” and I shall find it! There’s a nearby small town of La Crucecita and the harbor area of Santa Cruz where cruise ships occasionally dock. There are lots of palapas selling fresh seafood and beachside restaurants; there are snorkeling spots, and there are bay tours! I will do all the things! But also relax, you know, because it’s my vacation… I’ve scoured the TripAdvisor forums for good advice and compiled an anal thorough few pages of which beaches are the best.

We are staying at a cheap hotel (like less than $40 a night, for real, don’t be scared) that also has badass reviews. I figure I’d rather spend my money on authentic Mexican food and happy hour drinks at local restaurants/stalls/bars/palapas than an extra $120 a day on mediocre buffets with watered-down drinks at an all-inclusive resort. Also, there’s a grocery store called Super Che nearby where we can buy booze. I’ve requested a mini-fridge in our hotel room (and it’s low season, so I just might get it).

Oaxaca:  Yay, real Mexico!

From the beach, we are heading to Oaxaca on a very small plane that I’m pretty nervous about. The views are supposed to be incredible though, and it’s either a 30 minute flight there or an eight hour overnight “very windy” bus journey. Yeah… the lesser of two evils. Did I mention this plane has eleven seats?! ELEVEN!!!

We are doing an AirBnb for our Oaxaca accommodations, because I wanted something cheap, authentic, and near the center. After our AirBnb experience in Bangkok, I’ve learned that the most important thing about where I stay on vacay is LOCATION. In Oaxaca, we’re near the zócolo (city center) and our place is walkable to tons of restaurants. The owner lives there too and makes his own mezcal, something else I’m definitely trying a lot of in Mexico.

Since I thought we deserved at least one fancy dinner, I’ve made reservations for La Pitiona, one of the best restaurants in Latin America, to try their six course tasting menu. The chef has cooked at El Bulli in Spain, one of the world’s best restaurants. The day after we arrive, we’re taking a cooking class with a guy named Agustín and learning how to make mole! I’m going to eat food from the markets until I pop (grilled meats and chapulines) and then wander the cemeteries to see the Día de los Muertos festivities!

So that’s my plan for my eleven days in Mexico… as of now anyway. I thought that I’d left my plans rather loose, but as I look at all that I just typed, I’m not so sure. I wanted to tell some people my plans (because I’m pretty sure Charlie is just following me blindly) so that I can look back later and see how much I strayed. I’ll be back in November with some crucial blog material!

Follow me on Instagram for some real time vacay updates! And let me know if you have any tips for Mexico! Especially if you’ve been to Guanajuato, Huatulco, or Oaxaca!