0 items currently in your cart.
View your cart contents?
Travel Blog
Warriner School Uganda 2009
For more information on this visit see http://uganda2009.wordpress.com/sponsors
- A focus on education; passing on our experiences of Uganda, in person and online.
- A positive contribution to Kigezi High School, Uganda; both in the education through the visit and completion of a rain water harvesting project.
- Google maps and google earth resources; our expedition will be documented and these personal accounts will be available for others to learn from.
- A greater appreciation of other cultures at The Warriner School; as students experience Uganda and communicate their new understanding.
Huejutla de Reyes, Mexico
Sunday, Jul 13th 2008: Well Off the Beaten Track
Accommodation: While here I stayed at Hotel Jilton, Hilario Menindez No. 8, Tel: +52 (789) 8960363. This small family run guest house offered en-suite rooms with cable TVand was undergreat ownership. Current rates are 175 + 200 Peso for 1 or 2 persons.
If you're arriving in your own vehicle then stay at Hotel Oviedo, Morelos No. 12, Tel: +52 (789) 8960559. This was a motel style hotel offeringspacious rooms - with even bigger bathrooms and secure parking. Their current rates were 187, 274 + 327 Peso for 1, 2 or 3 persons.
The nicest hotel in the centre of town was Hotel Cuesta del Chorro, Tel: +52 (789) 8962017. This was a cheerful hotel that was well looked after with lots of flowers around the place. Their current rates were 320, 430, 480 + 530 Peso for 1, 2, 3 or 4 persons.
Tamazunchale, Mexico
Monday, Jul 14th 2008: Short Stop Between Huejutla And Xilitla
Xilitla, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico
Monday, Jul 14th 2008: The Unusual But Wonderful Las Pozas
Accommodation: While in Xilitla I stayed at Hotel Guzman, Corregidora No.208, Tel: (01-489) 3650001. The Hotel was located only a two minute walk from the main plaza and was excellent value for the price. In my opinion this was the best of the budget to mid range options with all en-suite rooms having unusual stone flooring and walls. The hotel's staff were faultless and always full of smiles, which makes for an even better stay. Their current rates were 150 + 250 or 250 + 350 Peso with air-con for 1 or 2 persons with free purified water.
A step up in price is the Hotel Aurora, Calle Niños Heroes No.114, Tel: (01-489) 3650253, Email: h.aurora@hotmail.com. This is great value if you are travelling as a family or 3- 5 persons. The hotel had only been open for 11 months so I don't think that it has been featured in any of the guide books YET. The spotless rooms were spacious, nicely furnished and all had air-con, cable TV and free purified water. Their current rates were 400, 450, 470 + 500 Peso for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 persons.
Many say that the place to stay in Xilitlais Posada El Castillo, Ocampo No.105, Tel (01-489) 365-0038, Web: www.junglegossip.com/castillo.html. This was the house where Edward James lived, but the rooms don't come cheap. The owner wanted the 650 Peso a night up front before you can even see the room.
Pinal de Amoles, Mexico
Tuesday, Jul 15th 2008: Saw This Small Town On The Map And Ended Up Here.
Accommodation: While in Pinal de Amoles I stayed at Posada Meson De Barreteros, Tel: (01-441) 2925166. This centrally located hotel was fine for the money. Their current rates were 200 Peso for 1 or 2 persons with en-suite and cable TV. They offered an excellent restaurant and secure parking facilities. If you are travelling between Xililtla and Tequisquiapan and its late in the day then this is a good option as the town is 45 minutes further on from Jalpan. Jalpan is an attractive colonial town which can be seen in an hour, but the accommodation is well over priced. All except two of the Hotels were charging over 450 Peso a night. The towns only 2 budget options were 190 + 200 Peso a night and they were both in a shocking state. One of these was located across from the bus station, which was a 25 minute walk from Jalpan's central plaza and the other hotel was on the opposite side of town alongside the main road that leads out towards Pinal and Tequisquiapan.
If you intend on travelling from Xilitla to Tequisaquiapan, then a good option is to spend the best part of the day in Xilitla at Las Pozas and then head to Pinal after lunch, breaking the journey up for an hour in Jalpan to have a bite to eat and to see the towns attractive colonial centre. If you are not on a budget then stay in Jalpan as it will also have a lot more happening in the evenings, otherwise head for Pinal de Amoles for the night where the journey will really begin the following morning, passing through stunning mountainous scenery.
Tequisquiapan, Mexico
Wednesday, Jul 16th 2008
Accommodation: Tequisquiapan is a popular weekend retreat for wealthy Mexicans from Mexico City so accommodation doesn't come cheap. The towns compact centre boasts colourful and charming streets, littered with alluring colonial guest houses. There is one street - Moctezumawhere you will be able to find slightly cheaper accommodation with rates beginning at 220 Peso. If your in town between Monday and Thursday then you should get some discount on the asking price if you ask. If your arriving after lunch on a Saturday then I would definitely book a head.
Whilst here I stayed at Posada Tequisquiapan, Moctezuma No. 6. Tel: 01 (414) 273-0010, who's current rates were 250 Peso per person - which is good for this town if you are travelling solo. The spacious en-suite rooms all offered cable TV, nice furnishings and fresh linen everyday and more importantly the elderly staff that worked here would always be full of smiles, which makes for an even better stay.
Within six or seven doors of Posada Tequisquiapan are five other Posada's with simular rates. One of which was Hotel Posada La Mision, Moctezuma No. 4. Tel: 01 (414) 273-1276.Alicia, the pleasant owner of this guest house spoke fluent English and offered better rates for two persons, but the rooms were not as nice. The Rough Guide Book recommended Posada San Francisco which was next door - but god knows why, when the other guest houses along this stretch were all far better. It makes you think whether or not these authors have ever visited the region.
Another mid range optionis Hotel Casablanca, 5 de Mayo No.6, Tel: 01(414)2730078, www.hotelcasablancatx.com.mx whose current rates are 350 + 500 Peso for one or two persons.
Queretaro, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico
Friday, Jul 18th 2008: Ugly on the Outside but Attractive on the Inside
Accommodation: Whilst here I stayed at Hotel Posada Diamante, Iganacio Allende Sur 45, Centro Historico, Tel: 01 (442) 212-6637, www.posadadiamante.com.mx. This was a fine budget to mid-range Hotel with all en-suite rooms having cable TV and excellent jet showers. There current rates were 220, 315, 365 forone, two or three persons.
Dolores Hidalgo, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico
Tuesday, Jul 22nd 2008: Fun Hitching to and from an Elegant Little Town
Accommodation: The nicest place that I came across in Dolores Hidalgo was the charming Posada Cocomacan, which is at the heart of the town's historical centre. Tel: 01 (418) 1826087 www.posadacocomacan.com.mx. Their current rates were 390, 500, 610 + 720 Peso for 1, 2, 3 or 4 persons. The hotel's fine colonial interior was rewarded with pleasant staff who I can imagine would offer their guests an enjoyable stay.
Another good value place to stay is Hotel Hidalgo, Hidalgo No. 15, Tel: 01 (418) 1822683, www.hotelposadahidalgo.com whose current rates are 348, 398 + 448 for 1, 2 or 3 persons.
Caudillo Hotel, Queretaro No. 8, Tel: 01(418)1820198, was a pleasant old hotel just off the central plaza. The rooms that I checked out were a little cramped but all offered en-suite, cable TV and free purified water. I thought that this hotel was overpriced with rates of 350, 400, 450, 500, 550 Peso for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 persons.
The best of the budget options was Hospeda je La Posada, Chihuahua No. 4 (between Oaxaca and Zacateca), Tel: 01 (418) 1824266. Their current rates were 250 Peso for 1 or 2 persons or 380 Peso for up to 4 persons.
Guanajuato, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico
Tuesday, Jul 22nd 2008: Fascinating Town With A Maze Of Unusual Streets
Accommodation: Guanajuato has an excellent choice of accommodations to suit all budgets. During my time here I stayed at the wonderful Casa Bertha, Tamboras No. 9 (just of mexiamora), Tel: 01 (473) 732-1316, www.paginasprodigy.com/casabertha. The friendly owners make it feel more like a home stay and the roof top terrace offers fine views across the city. The rooms vary considerably from having a shared bathroom to others having their own kitchen. They offer good rates for single travellers, room sharing a shared bathroom costing 150 Peso or 180 Peso for en-suite and your own kitchen.
A step up in price is the charming Hosteria del Frayle, Sopena No. 3, Tel: 01 (473) 7321179 www.hosteriadelfrayle.com This beautiful colonial hotel is full of character and is situated only 50 metres from the theatre. The spacious rooms are tastefully furnished and range between 800 + 900 Peso for 1 or 2 persons.
Hotel Meson del Rosario, Avenida Juarez No. 31, Tel: 01 (473) 7323284, www.travelbymexico.com/guan/mesonrosario. This centrally located hotel is housed in another fine colonial building. All the rooms are set back from the road but don't offer much in the way of natural light. Their rates were 607, 709 + 811 Peso for 1/2, 3 or 4 persons.
Cartagena, Colombia
Tuesday, Jul 29th 2008: Cartagena, Colombia: More Intense Spanish Lessons
I arrived in to Cartegena today where I will spend the next 6 weeks having Spanish lessons. It was a long flight via Panama City but it was all worth it as Cartegena is a charming colonial city.
