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Jumping Strangers on Easter Island, Sept 2010
Uncle Frank's house in Mexico City
roof of the castle think the building is for star
Visit to yje Sun & Moon Pyramide.
Looking to attend for a week in December.
Would like to stay with a host family.
Any suggestions would be great!
If you google 123 teach me you will be lead to an interesting site that might adress your question. I dont have an opinion on the best, as I have attended schools in other locals, but I have researched this subject and for me it comes down to a choice between International House or Frida Kahlo. Buen Suerte
My suggestion would be to get out of Mexico City if it is at all possible. In smaller cities and town it is easier to take you Spanish practice into the streets. I also think that your reception by a host family might be better, but I have no evidence to support this opinion.
try www.planetb2.com they offer courses any time the year and survival spanish courses
So many pilgrims, the really really faithful, visited the Shrine of Guadaloupe to view the sacred image of the Virgin Mary, that the old church was soon too fragile and too small to handle them. So this modern structure was built in 1987. Pope John Paul II even showed up in 1989, and they built him a special 2nd floor balcony alter from which to deliver Mass to the many many MANY thousands gathered below.
Visit Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods; until the middle of XXth century they were small towns outside the metropolitan area (about 15km south of downtown), which later engulfed them. They have preserved a more traditional little-town Mexican architecture with (mostly) quiet streets. Walk over Francisco Sosa Street to watch traditional balconies and stop in Santa Catarina Garden. The house of the painter Frida Kahlo, now a museum, is located on 247 Londres St. (almost at the corner of Allende St.); it can be an interesting place from an etnological point of view, however if you want to watch her paintings you should go to the Museum of Modern Art in Chapultepec Park; the house has very few paintings.
For those interested in literature: This neighborhood was the home of Gabriel Garcia Marquez when he lived in Mexico City; One hundred years of solitude was written here.
Bargaining is part of the Mexican culture. It is much more than an exchange of goods and services for money ... it is an important social interchange between two people. It is a unique, and very enjoyable, custom. Try it - you'll like it!
Courteousness is very important in the Mexican social structure and this is reflected in the following rules:
Start the bargaining process ONLY if you plan to buy the item when the price is right.
Decide in advance how much you are willing to pay.
Start the process by asking the vendor the price.
If the vendor's price is many times what the item is worth to you, bow out politely by indicating that there is no way you can meet that price, even though the item is lovely and probably worth what he is asking. Do not insult him by making references about highway robbery and such. He expects to bargain with you.
If the vendor's price is not more than 50% over what you are willing to pay, then counter politely with an offer that is about the same amount below your price. Do not counter with a ridiculously low offer ( see step above).
The bargaining is on ... enjoy yourself.
For example, if you found an item you were willing to pay N$ 10.00 pesos for, a typical session would go as follows...
Vendor: The price is N$ 15.00 pesos.
You: It is lovely but that is a bit high. I will pay N$ 5.00.
Vendor: Oh no señora, it costs me more than that. How about N$ 12.00?
You: That is still too much for me. I might be able to pay N$ 8.00.
Vendor: No, señora, the lowest I can go is N$ 10.00.
You: All right.
If you know your price is reasonable and the vendor will not come down that far, saying 'sorry' and walking away will frequently bring a lower offer.
Bargaining is not usually done in stores. They will display a sign reading 'precio fijo' (fixed prices). If you are not sure, ask a sales person.
Very important. Only use good quality shoes!
SHOES/DRESS SHOES
RESISTANT SHOES/BOOTS are a god idea for a long trip. A bit expensive and hot, so if you travel in a hot climate, a pair of comfortable RUNNING or WALKING SHOES can be an alternative. If you are travelling by plane you might prefer BOOTS without steelcaps, since they beep at the metal indicators.
Walking and Shopping
I did have time to stroll around and also do some shopping. There are many shopping malls around the city and prices were incredibly low.
Instead of bying only one dress, I made the owner of one shop very happy by bying four or was it even six dresses. All staff members were bowing (this is true) when I left the store. I felt like a Queen, lol!!
And how good did I feel myself knowing how little money I spent but how much I gave to that store, maybe they even closed it for the rest of the day and left for home :-)!
Those dresses were totally not planned but I just couldn't resist!
Of course a bottle of genuine tequila but no sombrero!
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