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11/12/2006 Entry: "Santiago de Queretaro"
This week I managed to escape from “El Defectuoso” courtesy of a customer who sent me on an impossible mission in Queretaro. It was my first time in the fabled city of the Spanish colonial aqueduct.
Queretaro is located a mere 2 hours 40 minutes by bus North of Mexico City. The journey is rather dull with no dramatic scenery worth reporting (unless you consider the ugly northern suburbs and industries of Mexico D.F. “dramatic”). However, the city of Queretaro in itself is impressively clean, especially when you are used to perennial dirt of the capital.
I have heard persistent rumors that middle-upper-class inhabitants of Mexico City, fed up with the increasing pollution and crime rates, are migrating to Queretaro. Indeed, life there is undoubtedly more peaceful while offering most of the facilities available in a large city (e.g. shopping, gym, etc.).
My only disappointment was with the otherwise reliable Tripadvisor Web site which recommended the Hotel Quinta Santiago. I can understand that American tourists with an overdose of standardized, bland, luxury found in Sheraton and Hilton hotels would be attracted by the rustic basic furniture of that noisy, window-less hotel but personally I do fancy a decent bed and some silence coming back from a day of on-site work.
Despite a totally last minute booking at the Fiesta Inn Queretaro I got a nice, clean and very quiet room at a tariff of under Pesos $1000 per night. The old town is only 20 minutes away, a taxi ride that costs Pesos $30. Dinner at the terrace of restaurant 1810 on Plaza de Armas was enjoyable, though by no means was it an example of “haute cuisine”. Strolling through the colonial streets of Queretaro at night was definitely a highlight of my stay.
Overall, Queretaro is a good weekend break destination away from bustling Mexico City. There are several interesting tours available in that historic city, which unfortunately I had to miss because of an endemically packed work agenda.
Replies: 3 comments
Zacatecas is very beautiful, but dull. Not much to see outside the central area. Campeche, which is walled and by the sea is nice, and so is Merida (plus Merida has the best food in Mexico).
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 11/14/2006 08:39 AM MEX
Amongst Mexican colonial cities, my preference goes to Guanajuato. Morelia is nice but less spectacular. San Miguel de Allende is too full of US expats. I have heard that Zacatecas is well worth a visit too.
Posted by Serge @ 11/14/2006 06:25 AM MEX
Sounds like a nice trip!
Have you been to Morelia? Puts Queretaro's architecture to shame
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 11/13/2006 12:10 PM MEX
