La Casa en GuanajuatoBed, no Breakfast! Now accepting inquiries for stays in the Don Quixote apartment, Buena Vista and Bóveda suites, and the Master bedroom.We loved every minute of the time we spent in Guanajuato...The city, the weather and your hospitality far exceeded my expectations and it was a sad day when we had to leave.- Wally & DianneContact us for more information. |  |
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9 July 2008 - Viva Aerobus
Any frequent traveler to Mexico knows the bus system is the way to move around inside of Mexico. Fares are generally affordable, I took the bus from Austin, TX to Guanajuato several years ago. By the time I made it down, the total cost was about $155 one way (including taxi the last 30 miles, bribes and/or tips at the border, and my tourist visa). 16 hours total transit time, door to door. Now, in much the same way Southwest Airlines became a powerhouse by competing with the car on short trips, and airline called VivaAerobus is going head to head with the bus lines, in a really no-frills, low cost airline.
The good news? You can fly from Austin, TX to Leon, Guanajuato for the price of a bus ticket, and about 25% of what it costs on Continental, American, or any of the other large Mexican airlines. The bad news? You can make the trip faster by bus. The flight requires a connection through Monterrey, and the schedule is set up such that you will be spending a night in Monterrey going both directions. The mitigating factor is that Monterrey has its charms, and free bus service is provided by the airline to downtown. Downtown Monterrey can be a nice place to spend a day, with the night life of the old town and art museums during the day there's plenty to do. And if you are traveling with a family, you can use your airline savings to book another month at the house! Big caveat - I don't know anyone who has flown VivaAerobus. But I hope to be able to get second hand accounts within the next several weeks. It will not be the travel answer for everyone, but it does offer an alternative to the bus within Mexico, and to the one foreign destination served, Austin, Texas. 29 January 2008 - Master BedroomWe are nearing the end of this website as a construction blog, which is both good and bad. I've certainly gotten a great deal out of the process, fascinated by the construction techniques, learning to work in Mexico, and getting to meet many hard workers and artisans. We have only some work on the roof to complete - shade under which to enjoy the expansive view, and the roof garden, the frosting on the cake. The master bedroom was finished in time for Christmas, we have been using the room for the last month as part of a shakedown. It will be added to the list of rooms available to guests beginning this month. The master bedroom is one of the largest rooms in the house, with a balcony overlooking the callejon, and a large attached bathroom.
The entrance to the master bedroom is off the main patio, and through the original heavy doors. The key itself is about 8 inches long! Inside is a study/reading area, and a king sized beds. In the evenings, you can hear the serenades of the estudiantes, as they serenade the crowds through the callejons (alleys) on their way to the Callejon del Beso. You can sometimes catch a glimpse of them from the balcony as they play their lutes and guitars, dressed in the troubador costumes of old. Muy romantico!
31 December 2007 - End of year update99% complete, only 25% left to go! This is how Mary described the house in November. Well, now I would call it 99% complete and 15% left to go. The scaffolding is down, and the house gleams in the winter sun.
All the rooms in the interior of the house are complete, with some of the private spaces still in the process of being furnished and decorated.
Other details in the interior are finding their place, and there is not a room in the house which is not livable. The apartments and suites are renting quickly, and some of our early guests, who were willing to put up with construction noise, have made return visits. Book early if possible, as the property fills up well in advance. 16 July 2007 - Work has moved outsideWith the exception of a few fixtures, a bit of ethernet cable, and a bit of paint, the interior work is done. Work has shifted to the outside of the house where the old 'aplanado', or cement facing, is being replaced. The aplanado creates the smooth walls over the stone and adobe structure. It is thrown on by the trowel full, then screed smooth. It is the primary surface on the walls, used inside and out.
While I was in town, we walked over to an art show opening at the Alondiga (grainery), which was the site of the first major battle of the war of independence from Spain. It is now combination history museum and art gallery. The Alondiga is a must stop for anyone wanting to understand the history of Guanajuato.
The 'cantera verde' or green stone that you see in the Alondiga, is naturally occuring in the hills around Guanajuato. The same stone is used throughout the house, in the stone of the fireplace, in pedestals and arches, as well as in the foundation and walls of the house. 11 June 2007 Update!
8 June 2007 Update! The demand is such that the State Department has warned applicants to allow as long as 12 weeks for their passports to be issued and up to three weeks for expedited processing at an extra fee. Previously, the maximum wait was six weeks and two weeks, respectively.Passports are good for 10 years for adults, 5 for minors. Go to the post office this week and get one started if you have any desire to travel outside the US. It will be one less thing to stress over when you do make your trip! 30 November 2006 - Do you have a passport?
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